Letters to the Editor

• the Tampering of the Elist
• Announcing the newly backboned ENGLISH_TUTOR echo!
• New WWW server
• Student Books

the Tampering of the Elist
by Bob Moravsik

Some of you may have read the drivel posted by Douglas Myers trying to justify the tampering of Elist passwords. Most of his article describes the world through the eyes of a person to argues that reality is what he claims. There was no conspiracy to create a trusteeship in FN_SYSOP. The issues was that the FN_SYSOP was held in trust through three past moderators hence, its not a new concept.

The real issue (and only issue) is: "Do the Elist keeper resolve disputes ?"

Douglas confuses the Elist keeper with a Fidonet position. Fidonet positions are described in Fidonet's policy. The elist keeper is not to be found. Bob Satti place Thom LaCosta in the nodelist as 1/21. The position has no description or "powers". Yet LaCosta puffed up his chest and began making up "policy". He resolved a dispute over an elisting useing LaCostaPol. What's LaCostaPol ? Its this secret set of rules that only Thom LaCosta knows. Whether Zorch or Rob is the moderator is not the issue. The issue is the tampering with the Elist passwords using these secret rules. Since LaCosta's special number was given by Bob Satti any controversies should be resolved by Satti. Remember, Satti could assign the 1/21 number to another and POOFFFFFF ! Not LaCostaPol.

There are two sides to this issue.

1. Moderators "control" conferences and the elisting is their property. This is not supported by any Fidonet policy or the laws of any nation (Remember, Fidonet is international)
2. Moderators serve the participants.

If one takes the later then the elist password is seperate from the moderator.

LaCosta the "tamperer" took it upon himself to resolve in favor of #1. SHOULD HE HAVE RESOLVED ? I claim the Elist keeper should NOT get involved in any disputes over the Elist. Twits like Douglas Myers can't understand this simple issue and try to justify tampering with the passwords on logic that very few people in Fidonet agree with (less then 100% of the moderators) the concept that moderators own conferences. Then don't. There is no policy, rule or law that states this.

Without guidance from Satti (who has the power to extend Fidonet policy), LaCosta should not have compromised the Elist security. THAT IS THE ONLY ISSUE.

The moderatorship, trusteeship issues etc etc are only smokescreens to justify the tampering.

The elist should be secure. Tampering with the password once only serves as justification for the second tampering, and the third. Under what conditions you ask ? LaCostaPol of course.

I'm sure we will hear more drivel on its OK because __________ Zorch, Satti, Moravsik etc etc etc..... Nope...without a firm method to resolve disputes over elist issues, the elist keeper should NEVER NEVER EVER tamper with the passwords.

Announcing the newly backboned ENGLISH_TUTOR echo!

This new echo has been established to assist those who wish to improve their command of the English language. I, the moderator, (Andy Manninger 1:153/831 or andym@lightspeed.bc.ca) encourage all sysops whose users could benefit from this echo to carry it. The ELIST describes ENGLISH_TUTOR as follows:

ENGLISH_TUTOR

English Tutoring for Students of the English Language

This echo should be of interest to those who wish to improve their command of English, and to those who wish to act as their tutors. Participants may submit short texts for critique and discussion by literate English speakers in English-speaking countries. Discussions of points of grammar, usage, standard English and regionalisms are welcome. Moderator can be e-mailed at andym@lightspeed.bc.ca

Status: Active
Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia, Group: FIDO
Distribution: Z1 Backbone; Telnet: http://bbs.docsplace.org
Gateways:
Language:
# Nodes: N/A Volume: N/A Rules:
Flags:
Notes:
Moderators: Andy Manninger, 1:153/831, andym@lightspeed.bc.ca

New WWW server

* Original message addressed to: Editor. (5:5/23).
* Carbon copies sent to: Cindy Ingersoll (1:2623/71).

THE MAIL BOX BBS said in a message to ALL:

TMBB> TCP/IP accessible node access information should be submitted
TMBB> to the FidoNews Editor for inclusion in their Region or Zone.
TMBB> -----------oOo-------------

I am pleased to announce the availability of filebone and echomail distribution services from 1:106/6018 via VMoTelnet or FTP.

Services are free to members of the TCRS CRP and HealthCareNet (Zone 60) Membership in the TCRS CRP is not restricted to Houston-area or Net-106 members.

TCRS membership includes unlimited echomail/files, shell account and web space on the home.tcrs.org Unix server, a POP3 email account, and access to selected newsgroups.

Others are invited to contribute accordingly. :-)

I've sent this to both of you via NETMAIL, since it started looking like a recruitment advertisement and I was concerned about it's appropriateness for the NEWSCHAT echo.

If you feel it's appropriate to be posted in the NEWSCHAT echo or published in the FidoNews, you have my consent. If you would like me to resubmit the information in ARTSPEC format, I'll be happy to do that if publication seems appropriate for the FidoNews.

TMBB>
TMBB> Fidonet Via Internet Hubs
TMBB>

> Node#      | Operator          | Facilities (*) | Speed | Basic Rate
> -----------+-------------------+----------------+-------+--------

  1:106/6018 | Lawrence Garvin   | FTP,VMoT       | 64K   | $5/month

Student Books

this letter is part English and part Russian-through-English:

Eng: I assume there are many student in your community and I want to invite all of them to new Web site: http://www.1800student.com this is the place where students can see-buy their books directly to each other.

this site is free.

I hope it would be helpful to all students.

If you agree with me - you can share this info with all members

Rebiata, ja priglashau vsech vas posetit moi novyi Web site: http://www.1800student.com. eto mesto gde vi mojhete pomeniat uchebniki (na sharu). poka.