The F I D O N E W S Volume 24, Number 01 01 Jan 2007 +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | |The newsletter of the | | | | | FidoNet community. | | Netmail attach to (POTS): | | | | | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-960447) | | | ____________| | | | | / __ | Netmail attach to (BinkP): | | | / / \ | Editor @ 2:203/0 | | | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | | | \_______\(_| /_) | Email attach to: | | _ @/_ \ _ | bfelten @ telia dot com | | | | \ \\ | | | | (*) | \ ))| | | |__U__| / \// | Editor: Bj”rn Felten | | ______ _//|| _\ / | | | / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. | | (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Table of Contents 1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1 2. MATT'S COLUMN - MATT BEDYNEK ............................. 2 The integrity of mail .................................... 2 3. FIDONET'S INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN .......................... 4 Terrence's Hoppin' John .................................. 4 4. ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................ 6 FidoNet Software References .............................. 6 5. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 11 Nodelist Stats ........................................... 11 6. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 13 How to Submit an Article ................................. 13 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 15 FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 1 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= FOOD FOR THOUGHT ================================================================= You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. -- Dale Carnegie ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 2 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= MATT'S COLUMN - MATT BEDYNEK ================================================================= The integrity of mail By Matt Bedynek, 1:106/1 As a mail mover, one must do whatever it takes to ensure the smooth operation of the network at the same time maximize the propagation of content. We cannot allow ourselves to become overzealous, nor, under estimate the vital role we play or the level of responsibility we shoulder. We must make decisions that compromise between quality and quantity. For example, decisions like maximum message size have far reaching consequences than our own system. Many of us are still active and routinely update our hardware and software that extend our capabilities far beyond our counterparts who do not. Those counterparts, our colleagues, may be sysops who simply do not have the time to invest in changing software, or, they are stranded on a desert island without the promise of updates for their favorite platform, that despite these limitations still work well for the scope in which they were designed. For example, I run the husky software (hpt and htick) to handle my echomail and files. Hpt can handle messages the size of available memory and htick can handle long file names. But, having been a fan of fido software, and used or evaluated every widely used software package, most of which are dead or dying, I can say that their limitations are more restrictive for the needs of the era in which they were designed. Moreover, while some of these software packages may have limits similar to mine, the operator may have chosen for whatever reason to not enable them. Today, some argue fidonet is no longer as tightly restricted in that there is no originating point for content. I agree with that fully. Fidonet is a peer-to-peer broadcast network in which traffic is passed on. And, pride or no pride, whether some of us admit it or not, cheap availability of 24/7 IP connectivity has opened the door for anyone to move mail. Unfortunately, there is no litmus test for those who volunteer to move mail that says they will uphold any doctrine or social contract to ensure the quality of the content they forward into the stream or take responsibility for any problems that originate from their links. If such software, capable or incapable, configured or not, receives a message that tests its upper limit, it might either sideline the message, the entire packet, or worse, freeze the system of the node processing it. If my node forwards you a packet containing 30 messages and one of them is too large for your system to handle the likely result is that the entire packet is lost and degradation of quality the result. The damage resulting will be far worse to the system than to the pride of the hub operator when he is called out for failing to place checks on the traffic he forwards. Yes, we are a peer-to-peer network, but hubs still play a vital role FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 3 1 Jan 2007 in that they are focal points for the traffic the pass. They have an obligation to find, isolate, and notify others of problems. If this is not possible, they should attempt to fix those problems themselves for the benefit of the network. Sure, in the past, we could simply blow people off and tell the operator of the system "I will not pass your broken messages, either switch software or have your messages lost". Today, we cannot afford to do this. I adopt the attitude if I can save one single message that contributes to the continuation of the network, I have done my good deed for the day. But, at the same time, as one hub operator to another, while I will notify my colleagues of the problem, I do not have an obligation to fix their system. Collaboration is fine, but if, as a hub operator, one does not have what it takes to make the cut, they should not shoulder the burden of handling traffic for other nodes. They do a disservice to the network and those they forward traffic for. If, as a hub operator, you cannot resolve issues on your own, then perhaps you shouldn't have volunteered. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 4 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= FIDONET'S INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN ================================================================= Terrence's Hoppin' John By: Carol Shenkenberger, 6:757/1 > Hi Bjorn! > A late submission, too late I bet for new years. Oh well. Hi Carol, Betcha it aint! :) Below is a traditional New Years meal, served in the South portion of the USA. It's made at all times of the year but is especially meaty at New Years. Additional broth may be added as it cooks. MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05 Title: Terrence's Hoppin' John Categories: Xxcarol, Main dish, Beans Yield: 16 Servings 4 lb Chopped virgina salt ham 1 lb Dry black-eyed peas 1 c Dry rice 8 c Chicken broth 6 ea Tomatos, big beefeaters chop 16 c Chopped Collard greens 3 c Chopped onions w/greens 1 tb Vinegar 4 sm Hot peppers, chopped fine 1 tb Black pepper 3 ea Green Peppers, chopped This one is from a neighbor. It comes from his ancestors who lived in a sharecropper place after the US civil war ended but he says it dates back to when his family were slaves on a big plantation in Georgia. While no longer slaves or sharecroppers, the recipe has carried down and shows the unique accent of one with a need to feed a big family in an economical but tastey way. It's adapted he says to use 'Virginia Ham' now but used to be salt pork of the inexpensive kind. The veggies, all came from the home plot on the farm back then. He says there is an alternate version, not the same in taste, which he lacks measurements for but from the earliest family history they have. In it, you omit the onions and black pepper but add 'Taro' (American sweet potato will do) and crushed peanuts. Now to cook this, you soak the beans the night before. He said, after washing the dishes. Chop the veggies (for the collards, you want FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 5 1 Jan 2007 only the greens and none of the stems). The green onion tops and green peppers were seasonal and omitted when not available. In winter when the collards werent available, they were omitted or the 'Taro/peanut' version was made when he was a kid. When chicken or other poultry carcasses werent available to make the stock, the water from boiling vegetables was used in it's place. Add all to a pot, after rinsing the soaked black-eyed peas off in fresh water. Set to a low boil, adding water as needed. The type of rice and size of the beans will make you either need to add more stock, or rice as you go along. From the kitchen of: A friend of xxcarol's MMMMM ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 6 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ================================================================= -=:{ FidoNet Software Reference }:=- Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. |Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node| `- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -' Argus |MI |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84 | | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889 | | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001 BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102 | | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998 BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/ | | maloff@corbina.net | | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000 (Outdated) FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280 Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net | | v2.4 on Sep 26th 2003 FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330 Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101 | | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX Husky Project |MTPUI|http://sf.net/projects/husky/ | | v1.4 RC2 on Sep 22nd 2003 Radius |MI |http://radius.pp.ru 2:5012/38 (based on Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463 | | Last Release: v4.010 on Jan 3nd 2005 Taurus |MI |http://taurus.rinet.ru (Russian) 2:461/70 | |http://www.fidotel.com/taurus (English) (based on Radius) | | E-mail: taurus@rinet.ru | | v5.000 alpha on Oct 11th 2004 Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608 | | Website is in Russian only WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204 Software, Inc. | | AUP 451.1 on April 26th 2004 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org | | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.10 FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 7 1 Jan 2007 FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org | | support@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60 JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de (ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000 Squish |T |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/ | | Lanuis site redirects to above | | Squish is part of Maximus. +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net | | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222 ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com | | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002 EZYCom BBS |BT |http://ezycom.sytes.net | |http://members.westnet.com.au/centuryp/ | | ezycom@westnet.com.au 3:690/682 | | v2.0 on 3 May 2003 Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org | | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final Maximus BBS |B |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/ | | v3.03 | |Archives back online at: | |http://maximus.outpostbbs.net/ MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802 Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net | | v0.60.0 on June 5th 2004 Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com | | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001 Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net | | groberts@nexusbbs.net | | v0.99.41-Beta on Oct 16th 2002 | | [Note: No Longer under active | | development.] Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be | | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002 RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120 Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com | | v2.62.2SW Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/ Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150 | | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999 FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 8 1 Jan 2007 Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net | | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net | | v3.10L Beta Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net | | support@telegard.net | | v3.09g2 SP4 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/ | | Last Update: August 2004 Cheepware |DU |http://outpostbbs.net Sean Dennis | | sean@outpostbbs.net 1:18/200 DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201 Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org Ruth Argust | | DoorMUD |D |http://doormud.com | | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002 | | Website is down after | | past the splash page. Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com | | scott@jibben.com | | 1995-99 Release dates John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com | | support@johndaileysoftware.com Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/ | | nannette@shiningstar.net Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com | | Tel: (404) 256-9518 The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/ | | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/ | | jpritch@eisonline.com | | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002 Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013 Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org | | last update: Jul 17th 2002 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de | |http://www.apoint-mail.de/indexe.htm | | (English Version) | | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de | | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13 FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 9 1 Jan 2007 CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de (German Only) | | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999 FreeXP |P |http://www.freexp.de 2:2433/460 | | support@freexp.de | | v3.40 RC3 Aug 31st 2003 (Snapshot) OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004 | | (Site is in German Only) | | mk@openxp.de v3.8.15 Beta Feb 10th 2004 | | Download Page comes back 404 not found. +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600 | | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003 SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de | | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999 TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet | | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed | | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267 +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com | | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997 Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/ Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806 (Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001 TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/ | | transnet@ressl.com.ar | | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998 TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.start.ca/software/multiboard Communications, Inc.| | Unsure about support now but Free Keys | | are now available. Donations accepted. | | v3.5 (Note: KeyGen is a Windows Program) Ifmail |UI |http://ifmail.sourceforge.net | | crosser@average.org 2:5020/230 | | Ifmail is a FTN <-> E-Mail/News Gateway | | Program. Meltdown-BBS |UI |http://meltdown-bbs.sourceforge.net/ | | meltdown-bbs.project.petkan | | @spamgourmet.com | | Fido: 2:350/5 | | Meltdown-BBS is an FTN <-> | | Web/PHP/MySQL BBS forum system. MakeNL |U | http://hub2000.darktech.org/makenl | | fidonet.hub2000 [at] gmail [dot] com FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 10 1 Jan 2007 | | Fido: 1:229/2000 | | FidoNet Nodelist Processor +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/ (in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings) +- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ File Archives: http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.net http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu http://www.bbsfiles.com http://hobbes.nmsu.edu Note: most also provide FTP access (use ftp:// instead of http:// above) *=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=* Please send corrections & additions to: Robert Couture, 1:229/2000 E-Mail: rpa4email (at) rogers (dot) com Telnet: runekeep.darktech.org (Leave Feedback as Guest or create an account) Emeritus: Ben Ritchey, Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 11 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= SPECIAL INTEREST ================================================================= Nodelist Stats Input nodelist nodelist.363 size 659.7kb date 2006-12-29 The nodelist has 5489 nodes in it and a total of 7370 non-comment entries including 6 zones 46 regions 332 hosts 376 hubs admin overhead 760 ( 13.85 %) and 653 private nodes 211 nodes down 257 nodes on hold off line overhead 1121 ( 20.42 %) Speed summary: >9600 = 452 ( 8.23 %) 9600 = 4292 ( 78.19 %) (HST = 82 or 1.91 %) (CSP = 0 or 0.00 %) (PEP = 1 or 0.02 %) (MAX = 0 or 0.00 %) (HAY = 1 or 0.02 %) (V32 = 2178 or 50.75 %) (V32B = 128 or 2.98 %) (V34 = 2957 or 68.90 %) (V42 = 2467 or 57.48 %) (V42B = 136 or 3.17 %) 2400 = 40 ( 0.73 %) 1200 = 5 ( 0.09 %) 300 = 700 ( 12.75 %) ISDN = 383 ( 6.98 %) ---------------------------------------------------------- File Req Flag Applicable software Number of systems ---------------------------------------------------------- XA Frontdoor <1.99b 1650 Frontdoor 2.02+ Dutchie 2.90c Binkleyterm >2.1 D'Bridge <1.3 TIMS Xenia -------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 12 1 Jan 2007 XB Binkleyterm 2.0 7 Dutchie 2.90b -------------------------------------- XC Opus 1.1 2 -------------------------------------- XP Seadog 2 -------------------------------------- XR Opus 1.03 25 -------------------------------------- XW Fido >12M 217 Tabby KittenMail -------------------------------------- XX D'Bridge 1.30 2267 Frontdoor 1.99b Intermail 2.01 T-Mail -------------------------------------- None QMM 1319 -------------------------------------- CrashMail capable = 1980 ( 36.07 %) MailOnly nodes = 3056 ( 55.67 %) Listed-only nodes = 450 ( 8.20 %) Other = 3 ( 0.05 %) [Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm] [ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/208] ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 13 1 Jan 2007 ================================================================= FIDONEWS INFORMATION ================================================================= How to Submit an Article If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred method if you want reasonable control over how the published article will appear in the Fidonews: a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's probably quite OK. No line may be longer than 70 characters. b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index, the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you may want to add some other address where you can be reached for personal comments. c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 22:00 UTC. Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file extension of the correct subject on the file name if known. Ideas for Subject areas: Subject File | Subject File ----------------------------------|---------------------------------- From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor Best of Fidonet *.bof | Letters to the Editor *.let If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews. If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I can not fix and I need your help on it. FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 14 1 Jan 2007 Send articles via e-mail or netmail, file attach or message to: Bj”rn Felten Fidonet 2:2/2 E-Mail bfelten @ telia dot com Skype file bfelten IMPORTANT! If you send the article via e-mail, make sure you put the word "fidonews" somewhere in the subject line! That way it will always pass the spam filter, ending up in the proper folder. Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article. That way I will know to look for it. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FIDONEWS 24-01 Page 15 1 Jan 2007 Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Editor: Bj”rn Felten, 2:2/2 | | Columnists: Frank Vest - Frank's Column | | Thom LaCosta - Fidonet Related Websites | | Robert Couture - Fidonet Software Listing | | Daryl Stout - Telnet BBS Guide | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince | | Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, | | Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, | | Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet. There is no copyright attached to Fidonews, though authors retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor at one of the addresses above. The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS. These sources are normally available through your Network Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from the following sources: + -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- + | | | File request from 2:2/2: | | current issue FIDONEWS | | back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP | | | | On the web: | | http://felten.yi.org/fidonews | | http://www.fidonet.ca/fidonews | | | | The Snooze *and* the FIDONEWS echo in your newsreader: | | news://felten.yi.org/FIDONEWS | | | + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + -----------------------------------------------------------------