NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27

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Path: sparky!uunet!dtix!darwin.sura.net!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!zeus.ieee.org!kumr!pozar From: pozar@kumr.lns.com (Tim Pozar) Newsgroups: comp.org.fidonet Subject: FidoNet Newsletter, Volume 9, # 47 Message-ID: <1992Nov23.014518.20696@kumr.lns.com> Date: 23 Nov 92 01:45:18 GMT Organization: Late Night Software (San Francisco) Lines: 756 Approved: pozar@hoptoad.UUCP F I D O N E W S -- | Vol. 9 No. 47 (23 November 1992) A newsletter of the | FidoNet BBS community | Published by: _ | / \ | "FidoNews" BBS /|oo \ | +1-415-863-2739 (_| /_) | 1:1/1@FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | editor@fidonews.fidonet.org | | \ \\ | | (*) | \ )) | Editors: |__U__| / \// | Tom Jennings _//|| _\ / | Tim Pozar (_/(_|(____/ | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | -- JOSEPH PULITZER ----------------------------+--------------------------------------- For information, copyrights, article submissions, obtaining copies and so on, please refer to the end of this file. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL ..................................................... 1 Editorial: Same old same old .................................. 1 2. ARTICLES ...................................................... 2 Why not some "Common Folk"??? ................................. 2 Zone Coordinator Wanted - Sysops need not apply ............... 3 Balancing National Interests .................................. 6 A_THEIST Echo now on Backbone! ................................ 8 Yet Another Special-Interest Network : the BigNet (zone 17) ... 9 HOLYSMOKE Echo is available on the Zone 1 Backbone! ........... 11 3. FIDONEWS INFORMATION .......................................... 13 FidoNews 9-47 Page 1 23 Nov 1992 ====================================================================== EDITORIAL ====================================================================== Editorial: Same old same old... by Tom Jennings (1:1/1) Boy are people pissed off about this Z1C business. Rightly so, I think. I'm sure we'll hear more on the subject. I think it would be instructive to those involved if they received a few THOUSAND MESSAGES A WEEK EACH from ordinary sysops AND users regarding the 14th century process they're using to pick a new king. This time though us peasants have really nice pitchforks, ie. netmail. * * * * * Just so's you don't think I notice only when things go wrong, a resounding THANKS! to all the FidoNews article submittors these last few months. I haven't received a badly formatted file for FidoNews inclusion in a while. I do appreciate it. For a while there it was getting annoying. It's fine now. Thanks everyone for reading ARTSPEC.DOC! * * * * * Well, in my informal call for suggestions for renaming FidoNews filenames for distribution, the overwhelmingly popular solution was to use FNWSvvnn.NWS. However, in standard discordian manner, I'm not going to do that. There's a reason though. I'm going to stick to the current format, with one character for the volume "number", and start with A...Z. My reasoning: it allows existing filesystems to keep the same indexing systems (FNEWS???.NWS matches FidoNews), sorted filename lists work as before, etc. It doesn't take much documentation to say that A == 10, B == 11... Algorithmic indexing systems won't drop dead or require non-linear changes for volumes > 9... PS: Thanks to Steve Crager@1:130/103 for reminding me weeks ago of the upcoming dillema. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-47 Page 2 23 Nov 1992 ====================================================================== ARTICLES ====================================================================== Zone Coordinator Selection: Policy or Dynasty? by Howie Ducat 1:278/0 Howie@its.brooklyn.cuny.edu After watching this go on for a few years now, it's time someone started asking questions. As an NC, I have to apply Policy 4 on a daily basis. New nodes must agree to abide by it in order to be assigned a node number. Nodes in conflict with each other use it to resolve their disputes. Policy 4 is supposed to be the governing document for Fidonet. Then why do the people who serve us (that's right, SERVE US IN OUR HOBBY), like some ZC's, some RC's and some NC's ignore it... with the support of those above them? I have to tell you from the start that I believe there are inherent flaws in Policy 4, and that it can be greatly improved upon, but while I don't agree with it, I must abide by it, since my membership, and everyone's membership in Fidonet (yes, even the *C's) is contingent upon following it. Policy 4 is quite clear about choosing a Zone Coordinator. Section 1.2.5. states that "Zone Coordinators are selected by the Regional Coordinators of that Zone." Section 6.2 states "The Zone Coordinator is selected by an Absolute Majority Vote of the Regional Coordinators within that Zone." Forget for a moment the fact that the RCs select the ZC and the ZC selects the RCs - thus creating what I think of as "The Home Boy's Email Club", or the Zone 1 Dynasty. Mind you, I'm not saying that some of these people are not upstanding contributors to Fidonet and the hobby - but there seems to be a movement to keep it "in the family". Nowhere else in Policy 4 is the selection process of a ZC referred to. The current situation in Zone 1 is unfortunate. The current ZC can not fulfill his term, so a new ZC must be found. Suddenly, in the Zone 1 nodelist, a diatribe with "selection criteria" appears. This farce about nominees for the position having to be current or past RC's is a slap in the face to any NC, HUB and Sysop in Fidonet. And those of you in Zones 2-6, pay attention to how this turns out - because your Zones may be next. I myself wouldn't mind doing the job of ZC outlined in Policy 4. I can run a local Network here (Net 278) and my "real" job I run several LANS, with gateways to an SNA WAN of mainframes attached to BITNET. But according to the current Z1C, none of that matters - since you supposedly must be an RC or former RC (which means you have to be a friend of the current ZC, because the ZC selects the RC's, and the RCs select the ZC, and we all have nothing to say about who serves us.... you get the idea..) FidoNews 9-47 Page 3 23 Nov 1992 Someone from within my Net, Rich Wood, has been nominated. He is not a former RC. With the "make-em-up-as-u-go" rules we're getting from those who are supposedly serving us and the hobby, 99.9% of us will never even be able to be considered for being an RC. In the United States, we just elected a new President, because we couldn't take anymore of the "old" ways. If we want to change something in Fidonet, we have to open our mouths (or keyboards and Netmail) and be heard. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. If you feel this way, or even if you don't, you should take some time and let your RC, your ZC, your IC, your NC know exactly how you feel. I wouldn't mind hearing from you either, no matter what side of it you're on. There. I feel much better now. Howie Ducat ---------------------------------------------------------------------- by Glen Johnson Media Executive Rejected in bid for Zone Coordinator You may have seen George Peace's announcement in the nodelist that he's resigning as Zone 1 Coordinator on November 26, 1992. At least I HOPE you saw it! Probably the best way to inform the masses that something significant is taking place in Fidonet is to put it in Fidonews. Which is probably why it wasn't announced here. So, are you interested in trying out the ZC hat on for size? Well, forget it. You can't. You're not eligible. Oh, I know that your a Fidonet sysop; I know that you can route mail and run MAKENL with the best of 'em; and you just might make a damn good ZC! But, none of that matters. Because you see, you're not allowed to be ZC. As a matter of fact, you're not even allowed to CHOOSE who the next ZC is. And its not because you're a Fidonet sysop, its because you're JUST a Fidonet sysop! See, in direct contradiction to Policy 4, George Peace has decided that the person that replaces him HAS to be a current or former Region Coordinator. What that means is FIDONET SYSOPS NEED NOT APPLY. It doesn't matter HOW qualified you are, after all, we don't want qualified people running Fidonet, do we? OF COURSE NOT. What we want is our BUDDIES running Fidonet! Did you see Tom Jennings' little blurb in Fidonews 946? I'll quote some of it in case you missed it: FidoNews 9-47 Page 4 23 Nov 1992 "SURPRISE! A new Z1C! With no notice. A complete secret. Sorry, notification via the dreck in the nodelist file doesn't count. (I distinctly remember asking if the generator of that information could supply it to FidoNews. Does this let me off the hook for not seeking it out?) Well, all is not lost. They're looking for a temporary replacement, until 13 people out of 10,000 in North America pick a new fearless leader "for you", next April? I think." Think he was kidding? Nope. He's not kidding. See, there are thousands of sysops in Zone 1. Now, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that there wouldn't BE a Zone 1 if there were no sysops in it. And of those thousands of good people in Zone 1, George Peace is saying that only 13 of them are allowed to have ANY CHANCE WHATSOEVER of serving as Zone Coordinator. Actually, it IS a bit more than 13. If you were a Region Coordinator for week or two four years ago, YOU TOO are eligible! Wow! WHAT??? You're NOT an RC??? Whoa, we can't have people like YOU in charge of Fidonet! Not only do we not want people like you running Fidonet, we don't want you to have ANYTHING TO SAY about WHO DOES! So sit there behind your keyboard, keep your mouth shut, and take what we give you. If you don't like it, GET OUT. Are you angry enough yet? No? Ok, well let's take a real life situation. A regular 'ol sysop saw the announcement in the nodediff that the ZC position was going to be vacated. He also saw the statement in there that says that only an RC can have the job. Not believing that our good friend the Zone Coordinator was capable of such blatant discrimination, he decided to send in his "resume" and throw his hat in the ring. The nodediff announcement said to send your "resume" to Don Dawson, so that's what this guy did. Here's a copy of his netmail to Dawson: ------------- cut here ------------ Don, Please consider this message to be a formal nomination of myself for the ZC position being vacated by George Peace. It is my opinion that nothing in Policy 4 prohibits my inclusion in this election. My qualifications are as follows: I was instrumental (along with Howie Ducat) in the formation of Net 278 and have continued my involvement in its growth, both technically and in policymaking as well as in the resolution of network disputes. FidoNews 9-47 Page 5 23 Nov 1992 I've acted as Net 278's NEC for nearly 2 years and have been, since the net's formation, its cost recovery treasurer. The fact that mail has flowed with virtually no interruption during that time should be a good indicator of my technical capabilities. I am also the Northeastern hub for the Ham Distribution Network, a network that distributes files related to Amateur Radio. I was also the New York Network Coordinator for Eggnet. My professional background also enhances my qualifications for the position. I am Director of the WOR Radio Network, a national Talk Radio network delivered by satellite to radio stations nationwide. I was hired to create the network a year ago and it is now the fastest growing network in the industry. Prior to taking the WOR position I was Director of Station Relations for the ABC Radio Networks. Its duties primarily involved affiliating stations, providing network services and resolving disputes resulting from technical failures in the satellite systems. I believe these qualifications are well within the requirements for the ZC position. Sincerely, Rich Wood ------------- cut here ------------ Well, to make a really long story not so long, Rich got a note back telling him that he can't have the job. Simply because he's not a Region Coordinator. Now here we have a major network media executive, who has spent his entire life in the communications industry, who also happens to be a technically adept Fidonet sysop. But that ain't good enough to be Zone Coordinator. But hey, if we had a convicted felon, or a serial killer or rapist, or computer terrorist, or a six year old interested in the job, he COULD be Zone Coordinator as long as he is or was, a Region Coordinator! Hey, it ain't WHAT you know, its WHO you know. You know? One thing Rich Wood didn't mention in his nomination letter is that the Wall Street Journal found out that he was involved in Fidonet last year. So they sent a reporter to his apartment in NYC to INTERVIEW him about it. Know what resulted from that interview? The Journal ran a FULL PAGE on Rich's interview, Fidonet and BBSing. It actually covered a couple of pages if I recall correctly. It was something that's becoming real scarce these days; a POSITIVE review of the BBS community. FidoNews 9-47 Page 6 23 Nov 1992 But SCREW YOU RICH! What you're capable of, and what you've done for Fidonet and BBSing in general doesn't make ANY DIFFERENCE! You are not one of the Gang of 13, so you CANNOT BE ZONE COORDINATOR. I don't know about you folks, but I think its pretty disgusting. There's also been a growing grass roots movement lately supporting Rich in his David vs. Goliath bid for ZC . Lots of sysops have been lining up behind Rich in support of his quest for the job. But wait, sysops have no say; I forgot. Anyway, don't you think its about time we break this closed control circle? The RCs pick the ZC, and the ZC appoints the RCs! Now its even worse, the ZC discriminates against the very people that make up Zone 1, by placing additional restrictions on WHO can and can't be the Zone Coordinator. If that kind of discrimination is practiced OPENLY, I wonder what kind is practiced PRIVATELY. Its time Zone 1 had a coordinator that came from the rank and file. Its time we picked a Zone Coordinator based on his or her ABILITY instead of based on his/her node number. Because the additional restrictions Peace has placed on this appointment, a policy complaint has been filed against him with the International Coordinator, Matt Whelan (3:3/1000). And sysops are already starting to write to Matt in support of Rich Wood, and against discrimination. Write to Matt yourself, and tell him what you think. Write to your RC too (don't know what good the latter will do, but what the hell). End the tyranny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dave Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu> Subject: from RISKS Reprinted with permission ("do with it as you wish. Granger") A "Viewpoint " piece in The Institute, November 1992 Balancing National Interests The September/October issue of The Institute carried a front page story reporting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is promoting legislation that would require all telephone systems to be designed in such a way that they can be wiretapped by law enforcement officials. The argument is that wiretapping is a key tool in much of law enforcement, particularly in fields such as drugs, racketeering, conspiracy and white collar crime, and that unless care is taken in the design of future telecommunications systems, this tool may become difficult or impossible to exercise. To solve this problem the FBI is FidoNews 9-47 Page 7 23 Nov 1992 promoting legislation that would establish design requirements on future telephone systems. Not surprisingly, civil liberties groups and telephone companies are reported to be less than enthusiastic. While interesting and important in its own right, this controversy is perhaps even more important as a symbol of a broader set of conflicts between a number of important national interests. As a country, we want to promote: * Individual privacy (including the right of citizens and other residents of the U.S. to keep personal records private, hold private communications with others, and move about without being "tracked".) * Security for organizations (including protection of financial transactions, and the ability to keep corporate data, plans, and communications confidential.) * Effective domestic law enforcement (including the ability to perform surveillance of legitimately identified suspects, and the ability to audit and reconstruct fraudulent activities.) * Effective international intelligence gathering (including the ability to monitor the plans and activities of organizations abroad that may pose a threat to the U.S. or to other peaceful states and peoples.) * Secure world-wide reliable communications for U.S. diplomats and the military, for U.S. business, and for U.S. citizens in their activities all around the world (including the ability to maintain and gain access to secure, reliable, communications channels.) Just as with most of our society's other fundamental objectives, these objectives are in conflict. You can not maximize them all because getting more of some involves giving up some of others. A dynamic tension must be created that keeps the various objectives properly balanced. That socially optimal point of balance may change gradually over time as world conditions and our society's values evolve. An electrical engineer who thinks for a moment about the problem of achieving any particular specified balance among the various objectives I have listed will quickly conclude that communications and information technology design choices lie at the heart of the way in which many of the necessary tradeoffs will be made. We would like easy portable communications for all, but doing that in a way that allows people to keep their legitimate travels private poses significant design challenges. Banks and other businesses would like secure encrypted communications world-wide, but promoting the general availability of such technologies all around the world severely complicates the signal intelligence operations of intelligence organizations. FidoNews 9-47 Page 8 23 Nov 1992 The troubling thing about the FBI's legislative proposals is not that they are being made, but that we lack a broader institutional context within which to evaluate them. In making such choices, we need to look systematically at all the legitimate interests that are at stake in telecommunications and information technology design choices, consider the ways in which technology and the world are evolving, and integrate all these considerations to arrive at a reasoned balance. In the old days, if things got too far out of line in some balance (for example, between freedom of the press and protection against liable), the courts simply readjusted things and we went on. Today, and increasingly in the future, with many of these balances hard wired into the basic design of our information and communication systems, it may be much harder to readjust the balance after the fact. There are several organizations that should be working harder on these issues. On the government side the Telecommunication and Computing Technologies Program in the Office of Technology Assessment should be doing more systematic studies of these tradeoffs to help inform the Congress; The National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Department of Commerce (or some appropriate interagency committee) should be doing similar studies to develop more coherent and comprehensive executive branch policy; and the Office of Policy and Plans in the Federal Communications Commission (which is an independent regulatory agency not directly subject to executive branch policy) should be giving these issues more attention so it can better support the Commissioners when they confront such tradeoffs. On the non-government side, the Office of Computer and Information Technology at the National Research Council might appropriately mount a comprehensive study. There is an ideal opportunity here for a private foundation to fund an independent blue-ribbon commission. Finally, the computer and telecommunications industries, both individually and collectively through their industry associations, should be taking more interest in how the country will strike these all important balances. M. Granger Morgan M. Granger Morgan (F) is head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University where he is also a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and in the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management. He teaches and performs research on a variety of problems in technology and public policy in which technical issues are of central importance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher Baker Rights On! 1:374/14 A_THEIST Echo Available FidoNews 9-47 Page 9 23 Nov 1992 A_theism means free of religion in the way a_political means free of politics or a_sexual means free of sex characteristics or drives. With that in mind and ever cognizant of the continued pressure of religion to intrude itself into our government and its operations, the A_THEIST Echo is provided to inform and alarm and hopefully wake up the sleeping and too long silent majority to the peril on our doorstep. It is now a Zone 1 Backbone Echo Hosted and Moderated by Rights On! [1:374/14] and Christopher Baker [card carrying member of American Atheists, Inc.]. Initial links may be obtained from your local Backbone source connection. Zone 3 is being fed through 3:800/857 and Zone 2 through 2:241/6001 via a Gate at 1:374/14 until direct links can be made to those Zones via the international Backbone links. The Zone 3 Hub sends it into Zone 6. The Echo is open to anyone who can discuss, without proselytizing, the extreme desirability of maintaining the absolute separation of State and church in this country as provided for in our Constitution. A sample of the first few messages and the statement of purpose of the Echo is available as A_THEIST.ZIP from this system anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone 1 ZMH [USR HST V32 online] if you wish to get an idea of whether to commit disk space to the Echo. An archive of the past traffic from the Echo is also available as A_ECHO1.ZIP, A_ECHO2.ZIP, and A_ECHO3.ZIP, A_ECHO4.ZIP, etc. It has been on the Backbone for months. Ask your Backbone connection to get it for you! The complete info is available in the current ELISTnnn.XXX file available from your NEC or REC or here. [Request ELIST.] I hope you will join us or ask your Sysop to request a link via their regular Backbone connections! TTFN. Chris ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcing BigNet, a Net for BIG folks and their friends By B.L.U.T.O. FidoNews 9-47 Page 10 23 Nov 1992 1:215/606 The Blurb: Are you amply built? Big, burly, or buxom? Plump, plentiful, or even ponderous? Or maybe just one of those who admire and desire the fuller figure? Fat and Proud? Where does a big person, or a lover of the large, go to find a "fat-friendly" forum? The search ends here in BigNet, a safe place for fat folks, their friends and allies! The Story: When I first started modemming, the first BBS I called was a system by the name of The BIG Board. I found a lot of big folks there who were no longer accepting the stigma that modern society puts on fat people, and a lot of not-so-big folks who were friends, lovers, and allies. I never thought of myself as belonging to a "minority group" before (although I certainly have experienced plenty of prejudice based on my size), but I really liked being in a safe online environment where I could be assured that I would not be dissed for being overweight. Discovering that there were a lot of folks who actually prefer to associate with and have relationships with big people was also not bad for my ego. Eventually I became a co-sysop here at HalfLife BBS, and got to know all five of the BBSs dedicated to us extra-large types. Five? In all of the US? Judging from the number of bear-like builds I have seen at most user meets and local Net functions, I figured there must be sufficient demand for more than five such systems, and so I got together with a couple of other systems and formed BigNet. I posted a message in the OTHERNETS echo every month or so and called that advertising, and we are now up to about a dozen member systems, with two more in process. I figure that we can handle expanding a bit faster now, so that's why this article in the 'Snooze.... Information We carry a dozen or so echos, from adult-only explicit to cooking, politics of fat acceptance, health, etc. The BigNet is open to systems and users of any and all sizes, persuasions, and sexual preferences. The only major requirement is that a prospective member be technically competent to run a Fido-type mail system and that they be committed to communications free of bigotry. FidoNews 9-47 Page 11 23 Nov 1992 We currently have hub systems in the SF Bay Area, Seattle, northern Kansas, Phoenix, and Providence, RI. Most are 9600+ baud. We have no geographical or other restrictions on your choice of feeds. For further information, applications, etc. f'req BIGNET from 1:215/606 (please note that this is a PART TIME system, available nights and mornings ONLY from 20:00 to 11:00 Pacific time). The info/propaganda file is only about 28k long, in PKZIP format, a 2-minute transfer at 2400 baud. Thank you for your interest.... B.L.U.T.O. Zone 17 (BigNet) ZC/IC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Leff Styx Allum Out in the Styx, 1:152/20 HOLYSMOKE Echo is ready and waiting! HOLYSMOKE is now a Backbone Echo that originally sprang forth from Out in the Styx of Oregon. It is carried on the Zone 1 Backbone and sent into Zones 2, 3, and 6 via 2:241/6001 and 3:800/857. HOLYSMOKE is Moderated by Frederick Leff on 1:152/20. It is Hubbed out of Zone 1 by 1:374/14. If any of you or your Sysops are interested in obtaining this Echo, you or they should contact their regular, Backbone Echo source! HOLYSMOKE now appears in FIDONET.NA as of 26 Jul 92. HOLYSMOKE is an Echo for debating the merits/demerits of religions of all kinds in a friendly but contentious way. It is open to anyone who cares to argue or cajole without proselytizing or personal attacks. Wear your NOMEX undies! The Echo is now fully activated and waiting for those with an interest in fire or brimstone or a bucket of cold water. The complete rules are posted regularly in the Echo and are available in the current ELRUL archive published at 1:1/201. Come and join us in the great debate! Frederick Leff, Moderator Styx Allum, Host 1:152/20 FidoNews 9-47 Page 12 23 Nov 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 9-47 Page 13 23 Nov 1992 ====================================================================== FIDONEWS INFORMATION ====================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Tom Jennings, Tim Pozar Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/1 Internet fidonews@fidosw.fidonet.org BBS +1-415-863-2739, 300/1200/2400/V.32/HST (Postal Service mailing address) (have patience) FidoNews c/o World Power Systems <---- don't forget this Box 77731 San Francisco CA 94107 USA Published weekly by and for the members of the FidoNet international amateur electronic mail system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is copyright 1992 Tom Jennings. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or FidoNews (we're easy). OBTAINING COPIES: The-most-recent-issue-ONLY of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained from Fido Software for $10.00US each PostPaid First Class within North America, or $13.00US elsewhere, mailed Air Mail. (US funds drawn upon a US bank only.) BACK ISSUES: Available from FidoNet nodes 1:102/138, 1:216/21, 1:125/1212, 1:107/519.1 (and probably others), via filerequest or download (consult a recent nodelist for phone numbers). INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.ieee.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. If you have questions regarding FidoNet, please direct them to deitch@gisatl.fidonet.org, not the FidoNews BBS. (Be kind and patient; David Deitch is generously volunteering to handle FidoNet/Internet questions.) FidoNews 9-47 Page 14 23 Nov 1992 SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/1 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. Asked what he thought of Western civilization, M.K. Gandhi said, "I think it would be an excellent idea". -- END ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Remember Campers!!! To send mail from an Internet site or smart UUCP Site TO a user that calls a Fido-Net system. You need to know the name of the person and node number of the Fido-Net system that the person uses. The address of a FidoNode looks like this: 1:105/302.0. Usually the 1: and .0 are left off, but they are there by default. (In Europe it is 2: and in the Pacific Basin it is 3:.) That address can be translated as "Zone 1, Net 105, FidoNode 302, Point 0." or p0.f302.n105.z1. Add the FidoNet domain of .fidonet.org to the end of that, chop off the p0 (it is again, a default) and you have f302.n105.z1.fidonet.org - the "Fully Qualified Domain Name" of a FidoNode. Another example is 1:105/4.3 which would be written as p3.f4.n105.z1.fidonet.org (since there is a point number other than 0, we have to specify it). Note also that we are only using zone 1. This will also work for zones 2 and 3, just use z2 or z3 as appropriate. FidoNet uses full names of the callers. Multi-part name folks (eg. First Last, ie. "Dale Weber") will have a period '.' seperating their names. So, lets say you wanted to send mail to Dale Weber at 1:105/55.0, you would address your letter to: Dale.Weber@f55.n105.z1.fidonet.org. ************************************************************************ Submissions to comp.org.fidonet should be addressed to pozar@kumr.lns.com ************************************************************************ -- Internet: pozar@kumr.lns.com FidoNet: Tim Pozar @ 1:125/555 UUCP: ...!uunet!kumr.lns.com!pozar Snail: Tim Pozar / KKSF / 77 Maiden Lane / San Francisco CA 94108 / USA Voice: +1 415 788 2022