Articles

• Open letter from 1:395/8
• A MicroSoft Christmas
• Sysop's Night Before Christmas
• News from a fellow cyberjournalist

Open letter from 1:395/8
Larry Black, 1:395/8

Dear Bruce, Jim, and Chris,

I wish to thank all of you for supporting me in my time of need. At this time, I am still unable to comply with Crashmail, Zone Mail Hour, Etc., Etc., due to reasons beyond my Control. However, as an old-time member, and one of the local Founders of 395, I was very active in helping Fido acquire new nodes, and always supported the Efforts of new sysops, which was extremely Difficult in the Killeen/Fort Hood area, due to the large turnover of military personnel in our Unique situation.

Every day, I watch as we Lose more and more sysops and more and more nodes around the world to that Hi-Tech THANG called the Internet!! To me, it is TOTALLY incomprehensible that a few remaining Hobbyist Sysops that helped build THE WORLD'S GREATEST AMATEUR MAIL NETWORK must be STUCK in a rut with a Policy that was enacted in the 8-bit days of computers. Meanwhile, the World is moving Forward on the Internet, which does NOT have such Draconian restrictions! For the last two years, we have watched many of the Amateur mail networks that I and the others have participated in rapidly Disappear (RBBS-Net, Egg-Net, Etc., Etc.,), mostly due to the fact that they attempted to clone the archaic policies of the larger Fidonet and Refused to adapt to the changing technology around them.

I find it strange that Zone 2 has somehow managed to elude parts of the archaic Policy 4, mostly due to the infighting over the one simple rule that Fido has. Zone 2 meanwhile has an Internet Site that allows sysops with a Node Number to directly pick up mail over the Internet and has made changes to allow its users to directly participate in online conferences through the Internet. Perhaps if we were less restrictive and worried less about who has node numbers and Zone Mail Hours, and were more concerned about maintaining sysops in the nodelist instead of watching a shrinking nodelist, we could provide a more REALISTIC and REAL TIME Echolist by having numerous Internet Sites that provide access to Users and Sysops for realtime response throughout the world.

The Truth is that I, as well as most of the older Fido sysops around the world, became a part of the Net not for Chit-Chat with other sysops, but so we could get Responses from PC Hardware Manufacturers, specifically Modem Manufacturers, and other communications tools about PC Hardware, so that when I need a new init string, I didn't have to sit on the phone for 14 hours at my expense to get a new AT&F string. And of course, we were able to interact with shareware/software authors around the world, which is a Good thing, in what was a super- timely manner of only 3-5 days. In the days of 2400 baud modems, that was a Wonderful thing! In today's modern world, using this wonderful thing called the WORLD WIDE WEB, every large and small PC hardware, modem, shareware, software, etc., company has an online WEB-SITE providing people around the world with INSTANTANEOUS access to drivers, fixes, and help!! Don't you think it's strange that us hobbyist sysops, using our sizzling fast Pentium computers and light- speed 56K modems still have to wait the same original 3-5 days (BTW, I have a Skylink satellite dish in my back yard for downloading Fidonet mail that used to cost me an annual subscription that I would gladly donate to a dedicated hobbyist if he paid the shipping cost. However, It's still cheaper (aka FREE) to get Fido echoes from zone TWO over the Internet!).

I realize that all of you will see that this is irrelevant, so if you wish, because I am not in compliance, you may pull my node number. However, I would like to HUMBLY request an independent node number. If this is impossible, you may use the Internet gateway, (providing that it's still working) to send me mail at Larry.Black@ToadNet.com.

Thank You.

Larry Black
1:395/8_???
86:8406/5

P.S. Instead of people at the top, Region Coordinator, Zone Coordinator, etc., dictating Archaic policies to us poor hobbyist sysops on the bottom run, maybe should allow the lowly sysops, who have kept the Net together for years, to become part of the decision- making process, by requesting that the lowly sysops provide input, recommendations, and suggestions, to modernize our network. Elections are a wonderful thing, but rather meaningless if we can really make NO changes. I feel BADLY that this network that I helped SUPPORT and BUILD is disintegrating before my eyes because no-one is willing to ROCK the BOAT or make changes for fear of being singled out as a BAD GUY or ROGUE!

Have Yourself a Microsoft Christmas

From: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@papillion.ne.us>
To: "Baker, Christopher" <cbaker84@digital.net (Christopher Baker)
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 97 17:07:20 -0600
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <mriddle@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
Subject: Fwd: *** Have Yourself a Microsoft Christmas***

======BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE======

*** Have Yourself a Microsoft Christmas***

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except Papa's mouse.
The computer was humming, the icons were hopping,
As Papa did last-minute Internet shopping.

The stockings were hung by the modem with care
In hope that St. Nicholas would bring new software.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of computer games danced in their heads.

PageMaker for Billy, and Quicken for Dan,
And Carmen Sandiego for Pamela Ann.
The letters to Santa had been sent out by Mom,
To santaclaus@toyshop.northpole.com -

Which has now been re-routed to Washington State
Because Santa's workshop has been bought by Bill Gates.
All the elves and reindeer have had to skedaddle
To flashy new quarters in suburban Seattle.

After centuries of a life that was simple and spare,
St. Nicholas is suddenly a new billionaire,
With a shiny red Porsche in the place of his sleigh,
And a house on Lake Washington that's just down the way From where Bill has his mansion. The old fellow preens
In black Gucci boots and red Calvin Klein jeans.
The elves have stock options and desks with a view,
Where they write computer code for Johnny and Sue.

No more dolls or toy soldiers or little toy drums (ahem - pardon me)
No more dolls or tin soldiers or little toy drums
Will be under the tree, only compact disk ROMS
With the Microsoft label. So spin up your drive,
From now on Christmas runs only on Win95.

More rapid than eagles the competitors came,
And Bill whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
"Now, ADOBE! now, CLARIS! now, INTUIT! too,
Now, APPLE! and NETSCAPE! you are all of you through,"

It is Microsoft's SANTA that the kids can't resist,
It's the ultimate software with a traditional twist -
Recommended by no less than the jolly old elf,
And on the package, a picture of Santa himself.

Get 'em young, keep 'em long, is Microsoft's scheme,
And a merger with Santa is a marketer's dream.
To the top of the NASDAQ! to the top of the Dow!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away - wow!"

And Mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
The whir and the hum of our satellite platter,
As it turned toward that new Christmas star in the sky,
The SANTALITE owned by the Microsoft guy.
As I sprang from my bed and was turning around,
My computer turned on with a Jingle-Bells sound.

And there on the screen was a smiling Bill Gates
Next to jolly old Santa, two arm-in-arm mates.
And I heard them exclaim in voice so bright,
Have a MICROSOFT CHRISTMAS, and TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

=======END FORWARDED MESSAGE=======

A SYSOP'S
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

--- Following message extracted from 374SYSOP @ 1:18/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Sat Dec 13 20:42:07 1997

From: Genie Bohn
To: All
Date: 11 Dec 97 04:52:00
Subj: From the archives

A SYSOP'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the nodes
The modems were buzzing from many abodes.
And the new soundcard I'd hid by the chimney with care,
Had been returned by my spouse who had found it there.

I knew kids had long since been poured in their beds
While visions of new Apogee games danced in their heads.
My spouse fell asleep in a chair next to me
The computer was mine, I shouted with glee!

When a ring on Node 1 woke me quick from my throes
For the name on the logon thrilled me to the toes
Away to the keyboard I tore like a flash
Fell onto the table - broke a mouse with a crash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Shone bright on the RIP screen from a user we know.
And what to my wondering eyes did I see?
But one SANTA CLAUS typed so very hesitatingly.

In the NEWUSER script answered "YES" to real name,
"North Pole" as location, the "XT" was a shame.
He read all the rules and then to the bulletins he went.
So perfect his logon, I was slow to get bent.

I thought: "Download a file, you ain't got all night!"
The menus were boring in plain black and white.
But no interest in files this user displayed,
And I knew that this guy might get an upgrade.

He read all the Main Conference, then paused for a sec
Made me wonder if the guy worked with a full deck
And then, in a twinkling a message he typed
When I read it, the tears from my eyes I did wipe.

THANK YOU SYSOP, FOR THE ACCESS - YOU HAVE A GREAT BOARD
I thought at this time the sub he couldn't afford
HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, AND A BETTER NEW YEAR
At least for a lockout he had nothing to fear.

MRS CLAUS SENDS HER BEST AND THE ELVES SEND A GREETING
Maybe we should invite this guy to our next meeting.
I'LL ONLY CALL ONCE A YEAR, BUT I'LL UPLOAD A FILE!

Just once a year? How many boards does he dial?

After saving this message, to the RIPNet! echos he went,
Joined the EUROPE echo quickly, and read with intent,
Through RIPSYSOP and RIPCHAT and RIP Q&A he flew
Even left a few messages to people I knew!

Then upload he did - 'twas some warm Christmas text
Made me wonder in awe at just what he'd do next
I sprang to the kitchen a poured me a drink
Stirred it quick with a dirty spoon right from the sink.

Then back to the keyboard, but he'd logged off with a BYE
No chance for a chat with this SANTA CLAUS guy.
But I heard in the distance as I turned off the light,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Origin: Flamingo BBS, Melbourne, FL V34+ (407)242-8184 (1:374/46)

Journal X Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kevin Bertram - (703) 938-6901 kevin@journalx.com
Shane Ham - (202) 785-3916 shane@journalx.com

Journal X Webzine Sends Press Release to Gain Publicity
"We hope nobody sees through this sham," says editor.

Journal X, a webzine devoted to politics and culture from the twentysomething perspective, sent a press release today in the hopes of gaining free publicity. Editor Kevin Bertram and Associate Editor Shane Ham dreamed up the idea in order to increase readership for their fledgling internet publication.

"All kinds of people and organizations publicize themselves by convincing the media that advertising is news," said Bertram. "If it works on Entertainment Tonight, it should work for us."

"Our budget is tight to say the least," said Ham. "If we can con one or two reporters to do a 'news' story on us, we can get our name and URL out without spending a penny."

"We just hope we can find reporters who are gullible enough to fall for it," added Bertram.

Journal X is a webzine devoted to political commentary, original fiction, and reviews of everything from movies to computer games. The entire staff is composed of young men and women in their twenties. It is published every Thursday morning, and it can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.journalx.com.

The Politics and Culture department carries both conservative and liberal commentators that write about the world with a cynical but humorous edge. The Fiction and Reviews department carries short stories, diaries from young people living in New York and San Francisco, and Journal X's most popular feature, movie reviews.

"The previous two paragraphs are the critical ones," said Bertram. "We're hoping that it will move reporters to open their browsers and look at our zine. Once they do that, my phone will be ringing off the hook with interview requests."

Journal X editors brushed aside naysayers who predicted their press release scam would fail. "Just open up the newspaper," said Ham. "It is filled with articles that couldn't even be considered news in the bizarro universe. If you can read about the woman who turned her doll- making hobby into a marginally profitable home business, you should be able to read about the best new webzine on the net." He added that he hoped his upbeat tone and superlative descriptions of Journal X would convince reporters that a story about the webzine would indeed be interesting.

"Sure this is a cynical ploy," said Bertram, "but everyone else does it and it works very well for politicians and celebrities. We just want our piece of the pie."

Kevin Bertram and Shane Ham are both available for interviews.

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