Net Humor

What's Not Happening
Published Semi-Occasionally

The Fidonews Editor has called for news contributions from the six zones of Fidonet. Standing at the forefront of various lost causes, I don't really know what's happening, but I have a good grasp on what's not happening and will report this from time to time.

New Nodelist Features Full Internet Capability

In a stunning display of technological derring-do, the Fidonet Technological Standards Committee (FTSC) has adopted a new nodelist format for all zones. This new nodelist offers the capability, for the first time, for internet-only and dialup nodes to co-exist on the same nodelist as peers, with full connection information contained in the PHONE field and an entire new set of flags.

In part, this nodelist format was made possible by a ruling of the United States Federal Judiciary against Microsoft Corporation's dominance of the worldwide computer software market. As pennance for their past abuses of software innovation, Microsoft is required to accept connection from their toll-free number to the Microsoft Network by Fidonet nodes throughout the world wishing to send to internet-only nodes, and further required to crash messages from the internet to dial up nodes.

Nodediff's for the new nodelist will be distributed along with a small file which can execute on any platform and modifies all mailer, tosser, and compiler programs it finds to be compatible with the new format. This same program also cleans up any Year 2000 incompatibilities in any program, and is capable of patching hardware problems.

Reaction to the new format is entirely favorable, judging from these reviews by various principals:

"Sure, it'll cost a few billion, but it's a small price to pay for world-wide domination." - Mr. Gates of Microsoft

"I have reviewed the recommendations of the FTSC, and all appears to be in order." - Mr. Satti of Fidonet

"We almost got hung up on the code to make Dutchie operating under Windows NT compatible with the new scheme, but the rest was a piece of cake." - An anonymous developer for the FTSC

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| Fidonet: Douglas Myers 1:270/720@fidonet.org
| Internet: doug@mdtnbbs.com
| Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.
| From Mdtn_BBS @mdtnbbs.com [ In the Heart of Three Mile Island ]