Editorial

Most people presume that an editor has enough knowledge of the reader base out there to present an insightful and 'pleasing-to-the-eye' style of publication.

Then there is the case of one sysop and hub operator who insists that unless the *full* 87K of the Zone 1 EchoMail Coordinator election results are not posted, some sort of collusion is going on. So, to satisfy his quest for information and his insistence, it is now here.

To those of you in the *OTHER* Zones, I apologize, but since John has decided to personally direct editorial policy in the FidoNews, feel free to assess his efforts in editorial control to John Souvestre at 1:396/1 , or at his E-Mail address of: john@sstar.com.

To all Zone 1 sysops: The election protest period will be over and done on March 8, 1998.

Several more relevant and important points...

I'm having problems with some of the messages being sent to me...are these for _me_, or for "The FidoNews Editor"? Since these all of these appear to be for FidoNews or gave permission to be published, I have...but please be more careful in sending me things via NetMail or E-Mail. If it is for the next FidoNews, please indicate that by sending it to "FidoNews Editor". I'll see it...<g>

Also, with an aside to some at the Zone level, your nodelist is very much out of date. This is currently NODELIST.058, not NODELIST.044.

On another point, and to all who would submit articles for FidoNews publication, I refer you to the file (MagicFileName ARTSPEC) called ARTSPEC.DOC. It is also available for view or download at my own Web Site at 209.77.228.66/fidonews/ [faulty URL [jb 4/24/01]] (look for the link). An updated copy has been hatched out as well.

I'll point out now that if I have to hand-edit a message to fit the 70-character line limit, I will include the standard newspaper tear line of "### 30 ###" to indicate the article was modified by myself to fit. As always, we'll print what you send 'as-is' in all instances, though we may send it back to you for 'clean-up'. See the ARTSPEC.DOC for details.

There is a complaint in one echo that NECs in some networks are claiming the 'power' to decide from who and when a sysop can get an EchoMail feed, and no changes can be made without the NEC granting permission. Perhaps this is a misinterpretation of a local "no dupes" policy; perhaps it is something worse. Anyone know of this situation?

Also noted is that Net 163 has upped the ante on the pending Policy Complaint by picking up nodes in several nations and Zones, as well as one totally non-existant phone number for a node. There doesn't seem to be an "867" area code or country code...anyone know of one? Anyone know if the node in Malaysia listed in Net 163 is still active and operating?

To that extent, and with some modification needed to fit it in, some one in Region 33 sent a copy of the R33 IP Nodelist, one of the new 'supplemental' nodelists to meet the needs of a FidoNet growing in a new direction, but without the benefit or support of either Policy or FidoNet itself.

One point coming out of the FIDONEWS echo...there seems to be a consensus developing over the inclusion of the "page breaks" in the general publication of FidoNews...are these being used by anyone out there? Or is there a predominance to find a way to dump them? Your comments on this are solicited.

Another point of concern is the various 'national' or 'regional' versions of the FidoNews out there. I've run across several, and would ask that the editors of these send me the URL for each, and the Region that they are published for inclusion in the InterNet section of the FidoNews.

I also invite the editors of each one to contact me so that we can come up with a way to set up translations. Granted, Policy indicates that English is the "common tongue" in FidoNet, but Policy also encourages the free translation of FidoNet documents into other languages as well.

It would be nice to have a roster for those who wish to see the Snooze in all the languages it is available in, no?

Next to last...we get lots of mail...analysis of the Z1EC election and a lesson on statistical analysis to boot; responses to prior news; a comment or two on the new FidoNews; and more.

And, lastly...articles, articles, articles. Send them in. From anywhere, on any thing, by anyone. Just use the ARTSPEC instructions to make sure that the publication software doesn't choke. Shoot, we even do guest editorials...

-zf-