1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ********************** INSTALLED: 10 OCT 84 **************** 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 TOMORROW DRIVE B WILL BE MISSING WHILE I RESTORE THE MISSING INFORMATION. 21 THUS, IF YOU TRY TO ACCESS IT, IT WILL HANG UP. REQUIRING YOU TO HANGUP 22 AND CALL BACK IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE. THE DISK WILL BE RETURNED TOMORROW 23 NIGHT (THR 11 OCT 84). 24 ABOUT BWMS, POINT ONE, I WILL NOT DO ANY WORK ON IT MYSELF. I DON'T HAVE THE 25 TIME TO DO SO. NOR WILL I DO ANY HARDWARE MODIFICATIONS. OF COURSE I AM 26 NOT AGAINST ANYONE PUTTING UP THEIR OWN BWMS SYSTEM. THE QUIRY THAT WAS 27 BROUGHT UP WAS WHETHER SOMEONE WANTED TO DO THE MADDNESS. ACTUALY, WE 28 COULD USE ANOTHER BWMS TO TAKE THE LOAD OFF OF HERE. NOT TO MENTION 29 BEING ABLE TO SPREAD THE FAME BY HAVING SOFTWARE THAT COULD BE PROVIDED 30 TO OTHER COMPUTER FREAKS THAT IS USEABLE. 31 ************************** CISTOP MIKEY ***********************: 32 && && && 33 MADE IT ITO THE TOP (Mikey doesn't count.) 34 If anyone is interested in doing some BWMS-type stuff on a VERY different system, try dialing ATE-BYTE (the ph# 35 spells that). It's a BBS running in an outline-processor format. It can be very confusing, (it took me FOREVER to 36 get the hang of it) but once you figure out the basics of it it's quite rewarding. The Sysop there just modified 37 the welcome file so that everyone gets a simple instruction guide to the system at the beginning. There's an entire 38 outline area (called "Topic") dedicated to BWMS-style fiction. Just o ey to get to the top of it, 39 then use to see the outline. Oh, heck, why am I detailing it here? Call it, the basic instructions scroll 40 past you automatically. 41 && && && 42 The poet was pleased to find the Inn less crowded than it had been of late. There must be an adventure on, he 43 thought, all my favorite regulars seem to be gone. Hmm, maybe I can check on them... 44 First checking the room to make certain no-one was looking his way, the Poet slipped his hand into one of the large 45 pockets in his robe, pulling it open and gazing into it. Ahh, there was the Piper and that French fellow, on some 46 sort of flying horse. Oops, they were straying a bit too close to his pocket's field; better damp down the power 47 level. Having them trying to fly out of his pocket would be somewhat uncomfortable, to say the least. Crap. The 48 field transient had moved them several reality-tracks away from where they wanted to be. They're lost for sure, now. 49 Wait... Piper's flying back towards the field... maybe a little boost to the translator... there. That was a bit 50 tricky, there, but now they were back where they'd started. A near thing, too: as he'd translated them across the 51 interference from an alternate Poet taking similar action in an adjacent reality had almost set up a feedback... 52 Shuddering at the thought of what a reality feedback would do to things, the Poet released his pocket and signalled 53 the Innkeeper for his usual seven ales. Feedback! He hoped there weren't any sensitive reality-shifts going on in 54 Piper's current reality. The interference could have set up a standing wave... and that could make things pretty 55 hairy for afew hours... 56 && The Mad Actor && 57 58 OK, anybody else want in on the "Great Backwater Re-Write"? 59 As a start, I'd say that we should implement some sort of "marker" 60 similar to the one that lets BW know where the next line is. The marker would 61 indicate which lines had been entered BEFORE the current caller. This could 62 be used to protect previous entries from deletion etc. 63 In any case the first priority will be to get schematics & source code 64 for the CURRENT system! 65 Anybody got a prom reader? I've got both 8080 & Z-80 disassemblers... 66 _____________________________________Leonard____________________________________ 67 ps. Mikey, if we do get a group going on this would there be any problem using 68 the system you had at OMSI for testing? 69 ________________________________________________________________________________ 70 help 71 jerry haskins 72 has anyone gotten vic-40 (ahoy! oct.84) to work? 73 end 74 75 <&<&,&>&> and so the conversations turned, until the sun went down... <&<&,&>&> 76 ************************************************************************** 77 DAWN: NO ONE SAYS YOU CAN'T CONTINUE YOUR DEBATE JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE 78 IS OFF ADVENTURING. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE SEVERAL THOUGHTLINES FLOWING 79 IN BWMS AT ONCE. ADMITTEDLY IT MAKES IT A LITTLE HARDER TO KEEP TRACK OF 80 THINGS, BUT MOST PEOPLE SOON LEARN TO SKIP PAST THOSE THINGS THEY DON'T 81 REALLY CARE ABOUT. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T PUT YOU OFF OF BWMS ALTOGETHER, 82 WE NEED TO MAINTAIN A DIVERSE GROUP HERE, OR IT SINKS INTO A POCKET OF 83 ITS OWN SELF INTERESTS. ACTUALLY BARING ANY OTHER CONCEPTS FROM BEING 84 INTRODUCED. AND THAT IS MOST DEFINATLY NOT WHAT TJIS BBS IS ABOUT. 85 BWMSERS: I HAVE SCHEMATICS, NO PROBLEM THERE. AND YES, WE COULD PROBABLY 86 COBBLE UP SOMTHING FOR WORK IF SO DESIRED. ALSO, GIVE THE IDEA OF AN 87 ENTIRLY NEW SYSTEM A THOUGHT TOO, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A REPLACEMENT 88 AND OR UPGRADE OF VENERABLE OL' BWMS, EVEN A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM SOMEWHERE 89 ELSE MIGHT BE MORE ATRACTIVE. THE IDEA IS TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED HERE 90 TO MAKE A BETTER BBS OF THE BWMS STYLE. 91 ************************* CISTOP MIKEY ****************************: 92 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 93 VFFN/CAID:I am unable to attend friday due to something comeing up. Perhaps tuesday? 94 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 95 Are there any VIC user's left out there ? 96 Jerry 97 C 98 To:SYSOP 99 I tried to delete my first message but couldn't.Help screen didn't.Please advise. 100 Jerry Haskins 101 `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 102 Slowly the sun became a huge orange sphere, as it floated toward the 103 infinite line that separated sea and sky. As far as the eye could reach in 104 any direction, not a mortal artifact in sight. Nothing to mar the perfection 105 of that infinite curve. Here one could fully embrace the feeling of peace. 106 How strange, he mused to himself. He had friends who found this same feeling 107 of contentment living in the mountains of timber country. Maybe, just maybe, 108 he might see some of them at the Backwater Inn. Both feelings had one thing 109 in common. Relating the feeling to someone who has never been there was 110 nearly impossible. I guess it's just one of those things a person has to go 111 experience for themselves. High on a mountain side, or far at sea, there is 112 room to look as far outward or inward as a person desires. 113 114 'Southwind' was clipping along at a steady eight and a half knots, close 115 reaching, on the last tack, for the entrance to that famous river. A easy 116 slide up river to that cove near the Inn and... In the fading light a darker 117 line rose jaggedly out of the sea across the eastern horizon. It continued 118 to loom out of the misty haze that had occupied that quadrant of the world 119 most of the day. The ancient practitioner sprang up from his daydreaming 120 and reached below to grab both chart and long glass. Tomorrow morning was 121 when he expected to make landfall. Was it possible? Suddenly a word sprang 122 into his mind, `CURRENTS?'. "Oh! ", he exclaimed aloud. 123 `'`'`'`' -alchemist- `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 124 this system.. 125 ATTENTION HUNTERS 126 HUNTING SEASON NOW OPEN !!!!! 127 GET YOUR GURU TAGS NOW !!!!!! 128 [NO TAGS NEEDED FOR SHIELA OR FOLLOWERS 129 NOTE LIMIT 100 PER HUNTER 130 "LET'S BHANG WAN TODAY" 131 *********************************************************************** 132 WANTED: ATARI PROGRAMMERS WHO CAN PROGRAM IN BOTH MACHINE LANGUAGE AND 133 FORTH. STARTING A COMPANY SOON DEDICATED TO THE MANUFACTURING OF ROBOTS 134 AND NEED MORE PROGRAMMERS FOR THE CHRISTMAS RUSH. MUST BE ABLE TO USE S.A.M. 135 AND UNDERSTAND SELONOIDS AND RELAY OPERATION. LEAVE A MESSAGE HERE OR ON 136 P.A.C. IF INTERESTED. 137 138 THIS IS DAN BROOKS AND I AM INTERESTED 139 IN PROGRAMMING ROBOTS. 140 141 142 I HAVE AN I Q OF 250 AND I'M SMART TO 143 PLEASE CALL ME FOR DINER ( BREAKFAST TO) 144 I LIKE TO PUSH KEYS! 145 146 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZip 147 148 MiG: I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING A MOODEM DO YOU KNOW OF ANEY GOOOD ONES? 149 FOR THE ATARE? 150 THANX 151 ZIPSTER 152 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZip 153 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$TGC$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 154 MiG: sorry that you can't make it tomorrow (or today) tuesday sounds fine. 155 Say hello to aunt Bee and all the folks at Mayberry. 156 Vffn and Caid 157 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$TGC$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 158 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 159 Since I couldn't get to drive 'b' to see what happened since the last 160 entry, (yes, Virginia, it DOES hang fire!!) I'll wait for a while to 161 make another adventure contribution. 162 On the subject of a BWMS replacement -- with more code space to work 163 with, shouldn't we think about a little more efficient text storage? 164 I could suggest several things: 165 1. A fairly compatible format such as Incred. Big Money 360k 5 1/4" 166 2. Consider the entire disk as one file -- use CR or LF to deliniate 167 lines rather than 1 line/sector. 168 3. Similar (simple) command interface. 169 4. Don't get carried away with frills. Lots of the BWMS charm is the 170 basic simplicity of the format. (KISS) 171 5. (storage efficiency) how about some sort of runlength encoding for 172 things like borders or blank lines? 173 'nuffa that stuff. Now if I can just get this beast to behave.... 174 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 175 Piper: Since I have been 'designing' a BW like system for a while I have a 176 few points you might consider. 177 1. To keep the ability to edit lines AND to start reading at any line, the 178 easiest soltion is a 'Random-Access' file with fixed record lengths. 179 (essentially what BW uses now) Sequential files are a LOT harder to code. 180 2. Since I have 256 byte sectors on my equipment, I'd consider 2 lines per 181 sector. (Or perhaps 48 lines/track. that would be 96 char/line) 182 3. I see nothing wrong with the current command set. (Some of the quirks 183 should be straightened out though) 184 4. With 180k SSDD 5 1/4" disks and 2 "lines" per sector (plus a LOT of system 185 overhead) I could put 1398 "lines" on a disk. Remember, the only reason BW 186 has such a "small" amount of storage is that it is on a 35 track SINGLE 187 density system! On a 40 track DOUBLE density system we might have TOO MUCH 188 room. 189 Note: I may try putting up a BASIC version of BW on one of my machines. 190 If I do, I will give the number out to SOME of the patrons of BW. Since it 191 will only be a part-time test I will NOT generally release the number! (If the 192 test works out then MAYBE I'll get a second phone line etc) 193 _________________________________Leonard________________________________________ 194 I know that there are other places to post this message but... since Im here 195 196 I am trying to put together a CP/M system but lack the most important parts. 197 I have a 10 Megabyte Hard Disk Drive (5 1/4in.) and a few assorted trading 198 items such as, 40 character by 4 lines - display panels, with logic boards & 199 interface and power supply, large collection of ICs, A-to-D Converters, and 200 a couple of boards for a PDP-8 (CRT Controller, Bootstrap Loader) 201 Am looking for an S-100 card cage+power supply and or anything that will be 202 useful in this project. 203 The sooner I can find a system, the sooner Powerhouse Information Exchange 204 will be back online in Portland. Am also going to run a modified copy of the 205 under-distributed version of CITADEL. 206 Any help would be appreciated. Robert Kulbe 207 208 P.S. If you would rather, leave a formal message on CBBS-NW or the BIT BUCKET 209 210 -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- 211 212 ROBERT, WHAT IS `CITADEL` ? J. FORGE 213 FOR THAT MATTER, DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW ? ? ? 214 *********************************************************************** 215 LEONARD: ONE THING YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IS NOCKING THE LINE LENGTH 216 DOWN EVEN FURTHER (72 CHAR PER LINE) YOU DO THIS BY BREAKING IT INTO 217 64 CHAR CHUNKS, THEN ENCODE THE REMAINING 8 CHAR IN THE BIT 8'S OF THE 218 64 CHARS. THIS WAS DONE ON A VERSION OF THE SYSTEM THAT BWMS RUNS ON 219 UNFORTUNATLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE CODE TO DO IT WITH. IT DID DOUBLE 220 THE DATA SPACE THOUGH. THERE WAS ALSO A VERISON THAT RAN ON DOUBLE SIDED 221 DRIVES TOO BUT NEVER DOUBLE DENSITY. THE EQUIPMENT WAS OBSOLETE BY THE TIME 222 DDENS BECAME POPULAR. (IE WORKING 1791'S WERE AVAILABLE) 223 ANYWAY, IT'S A THOUGHT... 224 225 ALL: ARGHHHH! THE DRIVE B WAS RECOVERED (EASY TO DO, JUST THROW 226 IT ON MY CPM SYSTEM AND RUN MY UNDEL PROGRAM) BUT, I SEEM TO HAVE LEFT 227 IT LAYING ON MY DESK. SO... IT WON'T BE BACK UNTIL TOMORROW. IN THE 228 MEAN TIME I'LL LEAVE THE PREVIOUS DISK IN B SO YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING 229 THERE TO FILL THE VOID. SORRY 'BOUT THAT. 230 ************************* CISTOP MIKEY *************************** 231 <+|+> {255} 22001010 232 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 233 Hmmm... another BWMS... well, sorry, I cannot help, unless you're doing it on an Apple or a Commode (and I gather you're 234 not). 1000+ lines a disk sounds good, but it would be a little hard to find things after awhile. How about increasing 235 the line length a little, so there would be about 800 or so lines? 236 The idea of the delete pointer is a good one, also... then you could add 'delete a range of numbers' and not allow 237 deleting of other's entries. 238 Leonard: May I have that number? If so, I believe you have my number again or you could post it in the old code. I 239 never have the time to really go at the new one. I have the feeling you use more than one system at once... as a guess, 240 i'd say it was run through a polyalphabetic table and then run through a transposition block. If another guess of mine 241 is right, there are 3,628,000 shift combinations AFTER the keyword encryption. Am I hitting close? 242 +++++++++++++++++++ 243 (This is just after my last entry: To be brief, we continued on and neared the Nor-gate in the mountains. Narfaal 244 and Hargo set up Vesta-cannons to suprise the incoming group.) 245 Riding slowly along the steep trail winding up to the gate, the party gained it's first glimpse of the massive 246 stucture. It was ebony black, with small silver specks being the only mark upon it's face. A faint glow could be seen 247 near the edges of the door. "The time is quite close no-", Milchar began. 248 WHHHOOOOOOMMMM! A blast of violent amber energy smote the ground near Milchar, knocking him off Drinny and sending the 249 others scattering. "Take cover!", the Friar yelled, crouching behind a rock, peering toward the source of the fire. 250 Mounted on a high outcropping of rock some 150 feet overhead, was a short green barrel with a sight mounted on it. 251 The barrel was smouldering, and a short man giggled with delight at the Chaos he had caused. "Hargo like death, death 252 fun! Like to see others suffer! Me be just like Narfaal!", the man rasped. 253 Suddenly, the barrel spat out several more beams... one of these beams hit another outcropping of rock, sending 254 boulders down upon the party- Milchar barely had enough time to release his Soul-self before his body lost 255 consciousness. #Hurry, enter the gate! It opens even now!#, Milchar's soul-self thought out to the others. #He will 256 believe me dead, and report to his master! Hurry!# 257 ++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10:53 on 10/11/1984 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 258  @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 259 260 Anybody out there got a Kaypro CP/M manual? How do you 261 use the SWEEP.COM program? I have a public domain version 262 for another system, but no docs, just the advice: find a 263 Kaypro manual! Thanks for the help. 264 265 The mixed up kid 266 267 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 268 |+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 269 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 270 To: Mikey. Re: Updates of BWMS & KAMAS. 271 Have you given KAMAS a thought as a substitute for good ol' BWMS? I am running 272 an RKAMAS at 283-xxxx (ATE-BYTE) and could easily switch the topics around so 273 as to have a 376 K byte fiction topic (even two of them) and leave the rest of 274 the space for other topics. The system is running at 1200/300 bps and is using 275 678 K of ram disk and 752 K of floppies so there is a lot of storage. Also, 276 I can put the content of topics into ASCII files on most 5.25" formats which 277 is something many people seem to want. 278 Are you enjoing KAMAS? Have you used it any? Let me know if any of the ideas 279 above apeal to you. 280 Michael Galassi, System Operator of ATE-BYTE. 281 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 282 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 283 @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 284 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 285 The Former woke to the foul stench of rotting woods, and the dieases of his freinds. 286 As the Former tried to sleep, to evade the desperate reality she was in, her thoughts wandered to recent memories... 287 The White Plagues of two hundred years ago, the Red Plagues of fifty years ago, and the onset of the Green Plagues two years 288 ago. 289 The Green Plagues were still raging, but a cure was being distributed to the diestricts not too far gone to help. 290 The Former knew she was in a district too far gone to help, she knew also that the plague had all but killed her already. 291 She didn't have the power to send for help. Nor could she reform which would cure her. She was doomed. 292 She closed her eyes, and let sleep close in around her. She secretly knew that it was Death not sleep that ccrept on her. 293 As she died, she felt the psionic links opening, she felt a warning, another warning, she heard milcha warning everyone. 294 She realized the links were at their weakest at that instant. If an attempt failed now; there was no hope. 295 Opting for Life she screamed with every fiber of her mind and body, #I, I AM HERE, MILCHAR, TRACE ME, OR I DIE, PLEASE...# 296 After that, there was no strength in her to fight Death, and Death knew this, finality was microseconds away... 297 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 298 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 299 @ @ @ @@@: Is that any better mayhap? Any advice, comments, threats against my life, anthing?: @ @ @ @ @@ @@@ 300 301 *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* 302 Morning had come rather early, dawning bright and clear. I got evryone up, except Milchar, who had 303 apparently not gone to sleep at all. I brought out the cloth and unfolded it for breakfast. After 304 grace (It is my cloth, after all),we all ate well, for I feared a strenuous day. Getting going on 305 our journey, we looked an amazing sight. 306 After a short ride, we saw it. The site was amazing. As I contemplated it, the ground exploded 307 around us. "Take cover !", I yelled. Milchar was hit, and he crumpled to the ground. "Milchar !" 308 My voice was almost drowned out by more energy bursts. I heard Milchar's voice urging us through 309 the norgate. We would be safe there. I told Scout to dissolve back to the corral, which he most 310 gratefully did. I grabbed the inert body of Milchar and ran for the gate, leaping through it to 311 the assumed sanctuary beyond. Suddenly I was no longer in existence. Or at least my body no longer 312 responded to sensual stimulae. I felt the psychic presence of Milchar next to me, and thought 313 "What is this ?" Milchar's voice came to me "Do not fear, my friend, we will be out of the void in 314 a moment". 315 316 Friar Mossback 317 *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* 318 { ^+/* ---------------- ^+/* ---------------- */+^ ---------------- */+^ } 319 Laissez-faire - Have you left BWMS for awhile or are you just in 'lurkin' 320 mode for a bit? You asked who was going to watch the debates. I did 321 indeed watch both television candidate photo opportunities. One could 322 hardly call them debates. Conclusion: of the four perhaps we should 323 elect Ferraro and Bush, then let them flip a coin to see who gets to be 324 president! (Best two out of three tosses... 3 out of five?) 325 326 DAWN - I couldn't help but notice the general tonality of your messages. It 327 has something of a familiar ring to it. Perhaps you might try making a 328 contribution of your own rather than just offering criticism of the 329 entries of others. I do agree that the future is in the hands of the 330 youth of today, as it always has been in any era. How about giving us a 331 demonstration of this potential in the form of written expression here. 332 Debate, stories, or take your pick. Backwater has always been dealer's 333 choice. People, young or old, willing to contribute, have always been 334 given room to express themselves. Even those who only criticize others. 335 336 A conversation heard in the past comes to mind: 337 "Would you please teach us how to bring order out of chaos?" 338 "I look around me and I see no chaos. Perhaps you should 339 ask to be taught how to see." 340 341 A closing quote from Blaise Pascal: "I have made this letter longer than 342 usual because I lacked the time to make it short." 343 344 { ^+/* ---------------- The Mesolithic Mathematician ------------ */+^ } 345 ######################################### THE PRINCIPLE OF EVIL ############ 346 HOW CAN ONE MEASURE THE GOOD WITHOUT KNOWING THE BAD? HOW CAN ONE LONG FOR 347 HE LIGHT WITHOUT KNOWING THE ANGUISH OF DARKNESS? IN WHAT AN UNPLEASENT 348 LAND OF PLENTY WOULD ONE LIVE WERE THERE NO BAD. EVIL CAUSES SUFFERING AND FROM PAIN SPRINGS THE 349 ESIRE FOR SOMETHING BETTER; DEFICIENCIES CAUSE US TO WANT IMPROVEMENT, 350 VOLUTION, AND TO SET UP IDEALS. IT CAN SAFELY BE SAID, AS IT HAS OFTEN BEEN 351 THAT GOD WOULD CEASE TO EXIST IF THERE WERE NO DEVIL,OR AS A FRENCH THEOLOGIAN EXPRESSED IT: 352 "GOD AND THE DEVIL ARE THE WHOLE RELIGION." 353 ############################################ THE THINKER ##### 10/11/84#### 354 ######################### 11:30 AM### 355 AND HOW CAN WE KNOW BAD WRITING WITHOUT EVER HAVING 356 READ DAMIEN II AKA CYM AKA DAMIEN II? IT ALL DEPENDS 357 ON YOUR PRESPECTIVE. 358 ]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[ 359 BWMS - can it be done on a apple computer. Can it be done with the same 360 accuracy of this one? If it can be done or already has I would 361 really appreciate knowing about it. If you do know of one, please 362 leave a message for me here. 363 364 Mark. 365 ]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[ 366 ;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-; 367 Laseter looked down the alley to see if he had been spotted by the law officer. With Fin on the 368 loose there was no telling if they had been bought like so many others. tThe idea had been to beat 369 him offf planet, but the only way to do so would have been to steal the shuttle these Americans 370 had been so excited about. It was an ungainly bird, much better suited to weapons deliuvery than 371 space travel, but these people had just begun to exzplore and this was hotstuff to them. He smiled 372 as he thouight ofthe loud, wasteful rocket motors and hoew they lit up the morning sky. WEell, 373 soon they'd discover fusion drive and all that would be so much water undewr the bridge. Ahhh 374 the youth of young civilizations.If he couldn't shift their attentions soon, they might eventually 375 blow their delicate little planet to bits. 376 ;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-FIN 377 Oh well, I guess the Former is a dead woman, too bad; she owed me money. Sincerely, Sitria. 378 ............................................................................... 379 TO EVERY ONE-- 380 I AM SELLING A TRS-80 COLOR COMPUTER WITH EXTENDED COLOR BASIC. 381 IT HAS JOYSTICKS AND OVER 15 MISC. PROGRAMS.... 382 SORRY,NO MODEM.I AM LETTING IT GO FORUNBOUT 383 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 384 The Friar was carrying Milchar's body through the void, struggling through the gate... 385 #...help, Milchar..# A weak thought had found its way through the countless planes of existance, drawn to the center. 386 A soul entered Milchar's soul-self, and Milchar gave it some of his limited strength. #I am the Former...Where am I 387 ow?# #In the Nor-Gate, we shall be through in but a moment. If I hadn't been crossing through at the moment I would 388 ever have heard your plea. A plague?# 389 Yes, the Green Plagu..# At that moment, the straggling members of the group broke through the membrane. 390 he group found itself standing at the north end of a narrow valley, obviously the northernmost reach of the Ruby 391 alley. It was quite narrow and rocky at this end, probably due to the influence of the extra-planar connection. What 392 veryone could see, they marveled at... then they saw something even more amazing. 393 body was laying in a shallow pool of azure water. The body was covered with a sort of green slime- not at all 394 leasing to look at. As the party watched in morbid fasination, the water cleansed the slime from the body, and a 395 ealthy glow began to radiate from it. Milchar's body was exhibiting the same moist look, and the same glow. Small 396 uts and bruises on the members of the group vanished as the mysterious water touched them. Suddenly, the Former and 397 ilchar got up, laughing quietly. "Ahh,", Milchar said, "I have not felt this good in a very long time. Former, I 398 elcome you to our expedition. I wish there were time for formal introductions, but I fear that 'Hargo' will come in 399 fter us. Let us go in to the main section of the Valley and plan our defense." 400 he Friar, a little shaken by Milchar's formerly unconscious body spewing out this dialogue, asked, "Who is Hargo? Why 401 id he attack? What have we done?" 402 Nothing, my good friend. I believe in this case it is not what we have done, but what we can or will do. But let us 403 o. Sunset here will be in another hour, and I would like to be in the Gazebo at that time." 404 Why?", the Former asked. 405 To witness the greatest map-maker of all, of course." 406 "Huh?", the Former said, obviously having a hard time dealing with his new livelihood. 407 "You shall see, and know that fate must have had a hand in your resurrection." 408 A green blast of force from the direction of the gate convinced all to move closer to the center... 409 While moving, Milchar thought about the strange water and wondered why he had not noticed any of that before... 410 +++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10:38 on 10/12/84 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 411 ======================= BOAT BUILDING BY EMPIRE BOAT BUILDING ============== 412 413 SALES & REPAIR - FREE ESTIMATES FIBERGLASS BOATS. SAIL OR POWER 414 COOS BAY, OR 97420 0414 415 TELEPHONE 503-756-xxxx 416 FROM 8 TO 18 FEET . FROM BARE HULL TO COMPLETED BOAT. 417 418 *=========================================================================== 419 ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON 420 421 OryCon '84 is approaching! We will be a small, but fully featured 422 relaxicon-type science fiction/fantasy convention this year. 423 Panels, dealers, art show, video, costume dance, and 24-hour hospitality 424 suite. Portland Cosmopoliton Hotel, November 9 - 11. Memberships are limited, 425 and will not be sold att the door. 426 Call 283-xxxx for memberships ($11 'till 10/31). 427 428 Anyone interested in setting up computer/video games at OryCon?? 429 Maybe even a BWMS-type storyboard (non-phone) which could be written to by 430 people at OryCon??? If interested, call 635-xxxx. 431 - Mike & Dianne Butts 432 433 ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON-ORYCON 434 ******************************************************************** 435 WELL, DRIVE B IS BACK, I MUST APOLIGIZE FOR THE INCOHERANCE THOUGH, 436 I GOOFED AND RAN IT THRU THE WRONG UNDELETE PROGRAM WHICH STRIPPED 437 OFF THE FIRST CHARACTER OF EACH LINE. SORRY... 438 to: Michael Galassi: If I had a computer that was able to run Kamas, it 439 wouldn't be running a bbs, it would be pressed into service at work. 440 BWMS not being a useful computer bypasses that possibliity. 441 ********************** CISTO MIKEY *************************************: 442 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 443 The piper had wandered away from the main party. As he flew, seated on the 444 back of the pegasus, he felt the cool breeze of morning chilling away the warmth 445 of the morning sunbeams. His mount's mightly wings were braced in the air, 446 scarcely moving, sensitive to every nuance and fluctuation of the air currents. 447 From his seat, the party looked almost like heavily laden ants struggling 448 along the threadlike pathway that wound into the deepening canyons of the 449 looming mountains. The earth looked broken and tourtured here.. What incredible 450 forces had lifted and broken these huge slabs of stone? Had some giant child 451 overturned and broken some gigantic toy in an incredible fit of rage? 452 The piper's mind, lulled by the slow glide and morning sun, drifted idly over 453 these and other subjects, as he watched the party's slow crawl far below. 454 He considered, briefly, landing to confer with Milchar -- but no, they were 455 getting close to their destination, as Milchar had described it. He leaned 456 forward to bury his face in the sweet-smelling mane of his steed, feeling 457 delight in moving, breathing, and just being alive in this of all worlds. 458 The first indication he had of trouble was the tensing of the pegasus' muscles 459 under the silken hide. Mind still drifting, the piper responded by hooking his 460 knees over the leading edge of the mighty wings, just in time to prevent 461 being thrown off by the abrupt wheel of his steed. Banking almost vertically, 462 the pegasus seemed to pivot upon one straining wing as the backwash from 463 unleashed energy limned her rider and herself with shimmering green outlines. 464 The piper did not see the energy release, and being unharmed by the frightening, 465 but essentially harmeless energy backwash, he was unprepared for Milchar's 466 mental message. "Milchar -- hurt!" sped through his mind. Gaining control 467 with some difficulty, he managed to turn the pegasus around toward the site of 468 the recent disaster. Drifting in eerie silence, they swiftly but cautiously 469 slid over the intervening ridge toward the rough valley where the party had 470 been ambushed. Using silence and altitude, the strange dancing figure manning 471 a strange weapon below them was unaware of the approach of Peg and her rider. 472 (OK-- I never claimed to be very original at naming animals!) 473 The weapon (for that was all it could be) was a strange combination of strength 474 and fragility. The barrel, of pitted green metal, obviously withstood 475 tremendious energies, but attached to it was a strange crystalling object that 476 seemed to be neither here nor there. The grotesquely capering figure seemed to 477 be alone, although how he could have piled the boulders into a rough breastwork 478 the piper could not imagine. He had leaped atop the piled stone breastwork now, 479 waving his fists above his head in unholy glee. The piper, holding tightly 480 to his steed was scarcely twenty feet away when he yelled loudly, "Hey, Ugly, 481 That wasn't a Nice ThinG To DO!" The being's face was a study in amazement 482 as he turned to be confronted with a rider on a horse with a 20-footh wingspan. 483 The amazement on that face turned to horror a split-second before a forward 484 snap of the pegasus' right wing smashed the ugly face of the ambusher into 485 lying bits of red and white horror. The leading edge of the first joint of 486 pegasus' wing is capable of breaking through an 8-inch green tree -- the 487 mbusher's skull furnished much less resistance. 488 Stooping swiftly into the valley, the piper saw the last of the party enter 489 the open gateway. Landing before it, he hesitated, then with determination 490 began leading Peg to the door. He folded the great white wings more closely 491 to her body, brushing bits of gore from the right wing, and stroking her neck 492 and speaking softly, overcame her nervousness and lead her into the flickering 493 blackness. The ways of darkness are long and tortuous. The piper, without 494 Milchar and the party for his guide seemed to wander forever in that strange 495 domain -- flickers of energy that he could neither see nor hear washed by him. 496 He felt the rawness of unreleived pain streak through his nonexistent body, the 497 anguish of betrayal, the ecstasy of completion, the exhilarition of the epopt, 498 and the awful gripping numbness of emotional exhaustion -- then feelings for 499 which he could put no name came at him, and although his senses were totally 500 suspect, he could sense the bond between him and his steed growing stronger 501 through this test of adversity. Her thoughts seemed to be taking more tangible 502 form ... he strained to... 503 Suddenly, a great green wash of energy, propelled by a fantastic force of 504 gibbering hate rushed through the darkness. The piper turned to follow it 505 and emerged from the gateway just in time to see the party scatter. 506 "I'd better get out of the line of fire" he thought quickly, and moving to the 507 side mounted and urged Peg into the sky. 508 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 509 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 510 WHAT HAPPENED TO LINES 384-408? 511 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 512 ~ ? ? ? ? ? ?`?`? > ? ? ? _ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ? ? ? ?`? ? ? ~` ? ? ? ? ?/ 513 Oee, zmst a litt\r Ofhello? 514 Gee, just a little flaky this morning. I find it interesting how one little missing letter can change the whole meaning 515 of a sentence. 516 Mark:MLC/BBS will have a subsection that emulates BW with a few extras, I kept it simple otherwise.. 517 MLCers:when tuesday is the time to show up so as to get to that beast that hayes calls a modem? 518 Mark again:Yes, its on an apple, no, it will not be public domain, but it took all of 4 hours to write, in pascal. 519 ? ? ? ? ~ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/./? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 520 SYSOP 521 DO YOU KNOW WHEN EXCALIBUR BBS WILL RESUME SERVICE AND WHAT ITS NEW NUMBER WILL BE AFTER RELOCATION? 522 523 JAG 524 HAVE YOU FOUND OUT WHEN EXCALIBUR BBS WILL RESUME SERVICE AND WHAT ITS NEW NUMBER WILL BE? 525 JESSE JAMES 526 ]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[ 527 MiG: 528 Thanks for the reply. I was just wondering if it has ever been done 529 before. I have been looking into a bunch of different things to 530 write a BW here too, none worked and I only know a little of pascal. 531 Will the number for it be released to the public soon? 532 533 Mark 534 ]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[ 535 HI THERE 536 IT IS ME 537 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 538 539 it is now 6:18. boy, that was profound! 540 Does anybody out there know about NMI interrupts on the C=64? Does anybody want to know about them? Ok, fine! 541 orget it then! 542 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm OUTLAW MIKE mmmmmmmmmmmm 543 544 545 PASDOS 546 BY 547 LINNTON SYSTEMS 548 549 550 Portland, Oregon 97231 551 (503) 286-xxxx 552 553 ---- $39.95 INCLUDES SHIPPING ---- 554 555 PASDOS is a utility program written in Pascal and assembly for the Apple II 556 computer to allow transfers of files between Dos 3.3 and U.C.S.D 557 Pascal. 558 Pasdos will run under both the old and new versions of Apple Pascal. 559 560 Using this program one is able to 561 562 1..View a Pascal directory or a Dos 3.3 catalog. 563 A single keystroke command determines and displays 564 the proper directory (Pascal or Dos) from the drive 565 selected. 566 567 2..Transfer text files in both directions with automatic conversion. 568 Text files from Dos 3.3 are made compatible with the U.C.S.D. 569 editor and Pascal compiler. Text files generated with the 570 Pascal editor are made compatible with many word proccessors 571 that run under Dos 3.3. 572 573 3..Transfer other files with optional addition or removal of the 574 Dos 3.3 length and starting address header. 575 576 4..Use the U.C.S.D. Assembler to generate binary files that 577 can be 'brun' under Dos 3.3. 578 579 5..Demonstrations are included to show you how to transfer and 580 load hires picture files, and how to use the U.C.S.D 581 assembler to create binary programs that will run under 582 Dos 3.3. 583 584 6..Various data base programs are written under Dos 3.3 or Pascal. 585 With Pasdos you can transfer hires graphs to your favorite 586 operating system for printer dumps etc. 587 588 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 589 590 Pasdos requires that you have Pascal and Dos 3.3. 591 You must have two floppy drives. 592 593 ********************************************************** 594 piper: Someone seems to have it in for you. They were performing 595 wholesale deletes on your message when I happen to get home, I 596 kicked them off, but I'm not to sure how much got deleted. I'll 597 fix it up tomorrow. (I promise to get it right this time). 598 MIiG: Maybe it's time for nurdolux again... 599 Leonard: You sure you want to start a bbs and put up with these twits? 600 It's at times like these that I wonder why I bother. 601 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ********************************* 602 **************************************************************** 603 PIPER, AS YOU CAN PROBALY TELL, YOUR MISSING LINES ARE BACK. 604 THIS TIME I RAN THE DISK THRU THE PROPER PROGRAM. (IT ONLY REPLACED 605 THE FIRST CHARACTER WITH A SPACE IF IT WAS A FF . 606 ****** ****** ****** ****** ***** ***** ****** ***** ***** ****: TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 606