      F I D O N E W S         Volume 16, Number 46             15 Nov 1999 
     +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
     |  The newsletter of the     |   ISSN 1198-4589 Published by:        |
     |    FidoNet community       |   "FidoNews"                          |
     |          _                 |   1-717-732-6820     1:270/720        |
     |         /  \               |                                       |
     |        /|oo \              |                                       |
     |       (_|  /_)             |                                       |
     |        _`@/_ \    _        |                                       |
     |       |     | \   \\       |   Editor: Douglas Myers, 1:270/720    |
     |       | (*) |  \   ))      |           DougM@paonline.com          |
     |       |__U__| /  \//       |                                       |
     |        _//|| _\   /        |                                       |
     |       (_/(_|(____/         |                                       |
     |             (jm)           |   Newspapers should have no friends.  |
     |                            |                    -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
     +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
     


                        Table of Contents
     1. HEADLINES  ................................................  1
        Big Edition  ..............................................  1
     2. EDITORIAL  ................................................  2
        Cow in Berlin  ............................................  2
     3. GUEST EDITORIAL  ..........................................  3
        News from the Black Helicopter  ...........................  3
     4. ARTICLES  .................................................  6
        Mother Of All Elections  ..................................  6
        HMS PeenaFour  ............................................ 11
        Spooky Anagrams  .......................................... 12
        ITU-T Standards/Recommendations  .......................... 13
        NAB Echo Changes [Sept-Oct]  .............................. 19
        Z1B Echo Changes [Sept-Oct]  .............................. 20
     5. COLUMNS  .................................................. 22
        Fidonet-related sites  .................................... 22
        Ol'WDB: Hug-O-War  ........................................ 25
     6. NET HUMOR  ................................................ 27
        The Grand Emir Is Thirsty  ................................ 27
        Poetry Contest  ........................................... 27
     7. FIDONEWS INFORMATION  ..................................... 29
        Masthead  ................................................. 29
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 1                   15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                                 HEADLINES
     =================================================================

                                 Big Edition

     Many thanks to all the contributors for this edition of Fidonews.
     To tell the truth, I'm overwhelmed:  it appears that the members of
     Fidonet are starting to assert their ownership of their weekly
     newsletter, a process I can only encourage.

     I'm not exactly sure why this particular edition is just about
     double the size of a regular edition.  I'd like to think that I
     begged enough people for contributions that I achieved some kind of
     critical mass.  But, to be honest, I don't think it had that much to
     do with my personal efforts.

     My theory is that it's had more to do with the performance of the
     small, but growing, Fidonews staff.  Though there are only a few
     names listed in the masthead, these individuals have polished their
     sections into immaculate form.  I think readers noticed the
     difference in the quality of Fidonews, and that fact is responsible
     for the surge of interest this week.

     Of course, everyone might have found themselves with free time this
     week...


                                 Echo Posting

     Those of you who carry the FIDONEWS echo are invited to look at this
     week's posting of the newsletter with a critical eye.  I've revised
     the batch files here which split the newsletter and autopost it.
     Now the split is every five pages with the break at the printer page
     break rather than by line count.  The form feed characters have been
     stripped to prevent interaction with some BBS readers.  Hopefully,
     the appearance and ease of online viewing is improved.  I'd like
     your feedback and suggestions on this, however.


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 2                   15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                                 EDITORIAL
     =================================================================


                      (__)                                   (__)
                      (oo)                                   (oo)
         ______________\/______               ____    /-------\/  __
        /___/___/___/___/___/_/|             /___/|  / |     || _/_/|
        |___|___|___|___|___|_||             |__||/|* //-----|||_|_||
        |_|___|___|___|___|___||             |_|__|/|^^      ^/|___||
        |___|___|___|___|___|_|/             |___|_|/        |___|_|/

        Cow in Berlin before...             ...and after 9-Nov-1989


     It would seem that the Fall of the Wall should be celebrated by more
     than the ASCII cows on this, the tenth anniversary of the event.
     Yet it's largely gone unnoticed, getting only brief mention on talk
     radio and little or no attention by the press.

     It was probably the most unexpected event of my life.  The Wall in
     Berlin had stood ever since I could remember, and I never imagined
     that it would someday come down.  Though the nuclear danger was
     stressed in talk about monolithic Communism when I was younger, the
     more powerful symbol of human oppression was the Wall.  Destroying
     the world fifty times over was, possibly, too terrible to be
     believable... but a place where people were brutally shot down time
     after time brought home the value of freedom.

     Perhaps the lack of celebration today is because the rest of the
     world was wiser than I, and realized that all oppression would
     ultimately fail.  But I didn't know that nor even have hopes of
     it... until the Wall came down.

     Even Fido politics pales in comparison...

                                             Doug Myers

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 3                   15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                              GUEST EDITORIAL
     =================================================================

                    News from the Black Helicopter
                    Ruth Argust <ruth@doorgames.org>

              Although I wrote it, I could not have done
              without the help of many in the S-b echo with
              a very special thanks to Steve Asher of Zone
              3 for his invaluable co-conspirator input :)


     Let's clear up a misconception here. I am fully convinced that Thom
     LaCosta is a real person. There are several reasons behind this
     which I am not going to publicly disclose at this time.

     Yes, the BBS list said that real names must be used but that is not
     always the case as we know.

     It is my opinion that Tom Knowles is the alias or handle that
     LaCosta uses and has used for several years. This is probably why
     some searches for the name Tom Knowles turned up empty. However,
     even =if= Tom Knowles is a co-sysop, his grabbing the echoes, in my
     opinion, is proof that the ELIST has been compromised by the ELIST
     keeper since the co-sysop will have more access than the average
     user of the system. Additionally, there has never been any reports
     previously of a co-ELIST keeper and if Tom Knowles is the co-sysop,
     that is precisely what we have. But see more on that below.

     However, I strongly doubt that Tom Knowles exists other than as an
     alias for LaCosta.

     Have you all noticed how conveniently Tom Knowles has been elevated
     from a simple user on LaCosta's system (with no knowledge on how to
     operate the system to even quote a message by his OWN admission) to
     having had co-sysop status for the last several years? This happened
     ONLY after the information contained in the USBBS List was made
     public. LaCosta had AMPLE time in advance to say that Knowles was a
     co-sysop on the system and never did so. In fact, if you all recall,
     the first post made by Knowles anywhere was in the Moderator echo
     and it was not even from LaCosta's BBS. Additionally, LaCosta said
     something very different indeed (below).

     This all shows that LaCosta has been hiding something and possibly
     continues to do so.

     Now, let's do a bit of echo digging on the subject of Tom Knowles
     which is from Thom LaCosta's own post which clearly states that Tom
     was never a user of the BBS until recently:

     ============================================
     Area : MODERATOR
     Date : Sun Aug 22, 14:10
     >From : Thom LaCosta                                   1:1/21
     To   : Bob Kohl
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 4                   15 Nov 1999


     Subj : Echolist reply
     --------------------------------------------
     @MSGID: 1:1/21.0 7c03e2a0
     @PID: timEd 1.10+
     @TID: GE 1.11+
     @CHRS: IBMPC 2
     Bob Kohl wrote in a message to Thom LaCosta:

      BK> You know Thom, I do find it interesting that you've got someone
      BK> working off your board to grab the expired echoes... right after
      BK> you purge them. ;)

     Well, it would seem that the person first logged into a system that
     wasn't mine...I think if you look at the posts, you'll see that he
     logged on from another system in net261...it's the one that belongs
     to the NEC and is also available via telnet.

     All of the update messages from the user were submitted from an
     internet address....not a Fido address....and all were a good period
     of time before he ever became a user of this board.

     So, until someone who uses my board actually submits an update
     message from the board to the echolist, I'd say, like so many of
     your posts, you're all wet.


     Thom LaCosta
     hon@baltimoremd.com
     http://www.baltimoremd.com/
     -!-
      ! Origin: Home of The Other Robot (1:1/21)
     ============================================

     All of this "a good period of time before he ever became a user of
     this board", but apparently a good deal of time after he became the
     sysop of the same board... five years later, in fact. :) Remember
     that the name Tom Knowles appeared 3/1/94 in the US BBSLists.

     And don't miss this part:

     "So, until someone who uses my board actually submits an update
     message from the board to the echolist, I'd say, like so many of
     your posts, you're all wet."

     Isn't that what supposedly happened when the BBS had crashed and Tom
     Knowles was the =only= person who was able to update and grab three
     echoes from the board to the echolist just at the precise time they
     were burned? According to Carol Shenkenberger he was able to do this
     because he had logged onto the BBS to update expiring listings. Does
     this mean that in this case, Bob Kohl is NOT all wet?

     But I don't believe that LaCosta is the only one trying to hide
     something. I am of the opinion that SOME of the ranking members of
     FidoNet are aware of the alias and were fully aware of "the plan"
     that was used. I think further that LaCosta is calling on his
     "buddies" to assist him =try= to prove his credibility and get
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 5                   15 Nov 1999


     himself out of the hole he has dug himself into. I think you will
     see this in action so be advised.

     I have seen an admission by someone who has known LaCosta for many
     years to the point of face to face contact and he stated that he had
     never heard of a Tom Knowles. This person has run a BBS in the same
     general area for many years.

     What we have here is certainly overwhelming cause for concern. We
     have a very suspect ELIST where underhanded tactics appear to have
     been used and then more lies upon more lies to try to cover up the
     situation. This should be of deep concern to all of you and I am
     hoping that we can indeed have some persons step forward to set up a
     new ELIST. Many of us will support a new forthright and honest
     system.


     >From the Secret Squadron Brigade of the Black Helicopter Patrol
     Guarding all FidoNet Zones

     =============================================

     Ruth
     --
     Ruth Argust
     DDS - DoorWare Distribution System
     http://www.doorgames.org/


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 6                   15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================

                      The Mother Of All Elections
                       Steve Fredette, 1:163/551

     Well, the annual Region 12 election/flamefest is over, and what a
     hoot!  I haven't had this much fun since the Maylaysian Node Policy
     Complaint.

     It started on Sep 16th with the non-election call by the
     incomp^H^H^Humbent RC, Mike O'Connor. He appointed his brother Shawn
     as returning officer, but neglected to mention this to the region.
     The first message we saw from Shawn was a test message, followed by
     the election rules and an inaccurate timetable.

     Andrew Dominas and Darrell Salter were nominated, along with
     Creepin' Moses.  Shawn rejected Creepin's nomination (correcly),
     because his system was non-CM, and the election guidelines called
     for only CM systems to be elligible.  He later decided to ignore the
     guidelines and allow Creepin' to run, provided that he switched his
     system to CM if he won.  (???)  By this time, Creepin' was at the
     cottage, and didn't even know he was in the election.

     I nominated myself via crash netmail just before the deadline.
     Shawn didn't seem to be the most competent RO we've had, and I
     wanted to see if he could deal with a last-minute nomination as
     advertised in the guidelines.

     The first round of voting was fraught with mistakes and other
     difficulties.  On the first day of voting, after campaigning was
     over, Shawn accidentally reposted a previous message announcing that
     "We will be entering campaign phase tomorrow." An innocent enough
     mistake, but Shawn refused to believe it.  He first claimed that it
     was a dupe. (It wasn't -- the second message had a different
     subject, date and MSGID).  Then when the dupe theory didn't hold up,
     he descended into the twilight zone and decided that there must be a
     forger in our midst.  A rather clever forger indeed, who was able to
     remove the original message from Shawn's own system.

     Several flamewars later, Brian Hillis' routed netmail vote arrived
     on Shawn's system.  The message had Brian's name, but *Shawn's*
     address as the originating system.  Well.  Mike and Shawn exploded,
     accusing Brian of forging the message to trick Shawn into accepting
     an 'invalid' vote.  A little sleuthery by Lesley-Dee Dylan tracked
     down the problem and confirmed that the message left Brian's system
     with the correct address, but was grunged along the way.  Neither
     Mike nor Shawn ever did apologise to Brian about that one.

     After several more of Shawn's screwups (Missing passwords, mistyped
     node numbers, problems accepting crash netmail), we finally arrived
     at the end of the first round of voting.  The results:

        Andrew Dominas          7
        Darrell Salter          8
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 7                   15 Nov 1999


        Steve Fredette          8
        Creepin' Moses          0

     Oh great, a runoff election.  According to our election guidelines,
     a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote to be declared a
     winner. If not, the candidates with the least votes are dropped from
     the list and we have a runoff.  But wait!  Shawn miscounted Gerry
     Calhoun's vote. It appears that one of my votes should have gone to
     Darrell.  So the result is now:

        Andrew Dominas          7
        Darrell Salter          9
        Steve Fredette          7
        Creepin' Moses          0

     How bloody hard can it be to count to 23?  I sent the following
     message:


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Steve Fredette                         Area: REG12 - (620)
     To:      Shawn O'Connor                         16 Oct 99 16:54:52
     Subject: Counting

     I know it's cold there, but shouldn't you take off your mittens
     for the duration of the election?  Or you could wear gloves.
     They're almost as warm as mittens, and they won't interfere with
     your counting.


     ...Steve

     --- timEd 1.10
      * Origin: Acoustic Plains BBS. Ottawa, ON.  613-742-7612 (1:163/55
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     And poor Shawn can't figure out what to do next.  According to the
     election guidelines, he should drop Creepin' from the list and hold
     a runoff with the other three candidates.  "But nothing will have
     changed," he thinks, and takes it upon himself to 'flip a coin' to
     remove one of the second place candidates.  Coincidentally, the same
     one who just insulted him:


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Shawn O'Connor                         Area: REG12 - (667)
     To:      All                                    17 Oct 99 08:39:22
     Subject: Election Runoff

     Well,

     You all seem more interested in, a) tossing out insults, b)
     suggesting hand apparel. c) just balking in general, instead of
     making constructive suggestions.

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 8                   15 Nov 1999


     I will use what the RC has suggested. I will vote to break the tie
     between Andrew Dominas and Steve Fredette. I really have no interest
     in who gets elected, so I will flip a coin.

     Heads : Dominas
     Tales : Fredette

     It's Heads.

     The runoff will now commence between Andrew Dominas and Darrell
     Salter. All votes stand as they were previously cast for the two
     candidates in the runoff. (unless you submit a change during the
     runoff)

     If you wish to change your vote you must use the same password as
     previously submitted.

     One again the candidates are:

     Andrew Dominas
     Darrell Salter

     ** Modified time frame **

     Votes must arrive by Sunday October 24 Noon (12:00)

     Note: for the idiots out there; Votes are submitted by selecting a
     candidate then selecting a password. Placing both of these in a
     message (Netmail or here in REG12) addressed to me (Shawn O'Connor).

     Candidate: <Name you selected>
     Password : <Password you selected>

     Shawn

     --- Maximus/2 3.01
      * Origin: SSSFFF BBS (The Original!) (1:167/167)
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     The region's response to this piece of logic was vocal to say the
     least.  Even the other candidates were pissed off, and promised to
     hold a new election if they actually 'won' this farce.  I replied:


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Steve Fredette                         Area: REG12 - (678)
     To:      Shawn O'Connor                         17 Oct 99 21:47:18
     Subject: Election Runoff

     SO> The runoff will now commence between Andrew Dominas and Darrell
     SO> Salter.

     That's funny... the deadline for the first round of voting is over,
     and I don't recall seeing your number in the list of nodes that
     voted.  Yet you are now apparently casting a vote.
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 9                   15 Nov 1999


     The election guidelines are clear on what to do if no candidate
     receives 50% of the vote, yet you ignored them.  Do you remember
     writing the following on Sep 30th?

        SO> If you don't follow the guidelines, (disregarding them on a
        SO> whim)
        SO> what's the point in even having them.

     Did you bother to *read* the election guidelines?  *Can* you read
     them? Who died and left you as the region's penis-potato[*]?  There
     isn't much point in holding an election in the first place if the
     returning officer simply ignores the election guidelines and picks
     his own candidates.

     And do you suppose it is appropriate for the returning officer to
     complain about one of the candidates, then in the same breath, boot
     that candidate out of the election?  Would the coin have come down
     "Tales" if I *hadn't* suggested you lack the arithmetic skills of
     the average toddler?

     And you're ugly too.


     ...Steve


     [*]Dick-Tater

     --- timEd 1.10
      * Origin: Acoustic Plains BBS. Ottawa, ON.  613-742-7612 (1:163/55
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     After quite a bit more flaming, Mike decided he'd had enough.  He
     fired his brother and took over the job of returning officer
     himself. A few (much quieter) days later, the results of the runoff
     are in:

        Andrew Dominas          8
        Darrell Salter          13
        Steve Fredette          10

     (Sigh)  Ok, nobody has 50% of the vote yet, so we drop Andrew from
     the list and hold a second runoff.  The result of that one are:

        Darrell Salter          14
        Steve Fredette          14

     [Banging head on table]  We *still* don't have a clear majority, and
     need to hold a *third* runoff election.  By this point I'm getting
     sick of the whole thing.  I figure Darrell can do just as well a job
     as I can, and I'm half considering changing my vote so that he'll
     win and we'll be done with it for another year.  During the voting
     period for the third runoff, I posted the following message:


     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 10                  15 Nov 1999


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Mike O'Connor Jr.                      Area: REG12 - (883)
     To:      All                                    30 Oct 99 11:53:08
     Subject: Runoff election

     Dad phoned me from the rest home earlier today and asked if I would
     take over the job of returning officer for the election.  He's
     having a hip replaced and can't spare the time right now.  Don't
     get into a panic now, folks.  I don't have nearly as much trouble
     with counting as Uncle Shawn did.


     The 923rd runoff begins on July 14, 2017 at 9:00pm and ends Friday,
     July 21, 2017 at 9:00pm.

        Results to date:

        Darrell Salter          27
        Steve Fredette          27

        17 votes invalidated due to sysops having passed away.


     --- timEd 1.10
      * Origin: Acoustic Plains BBS. Ottawa, ON.  613-742-7612 (1:163/55
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     This caused Mike, as another sysop put it, "to fry his last
     remaining brain cell."  He accused me of 'forgery'.  Huh?  *Another*
     mythical forgery?  Better learn the difference between a forgery and
     an alias, Mikey.  And grab a sense of humour while you're at it.  He
     waited until two minutes before the election deadline, saw that the
     results were still tied, then withdrew his previous vote for me in
     order to throw the election in Darrell's favour:


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Mike O'Connor                          Area: REG12 - (903)
     To:      All                                     3 Nov 99 20:58:32
     Subject: My vote

     Steve just screwed himself.

     I withdraw my vote tallied under the password KillKenny.

     It's truly a sad state of affairs when mail forgery is considered
     funny.

     You are all pathetic.

     Bye.



     --- Maximus/2 3.01
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 11                  15 Nov 1999


      * Origin: SSSFFF ][ TSS (1:167/166)
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     Yeeeha!  A threesome.  Fucked twice in the same election by two
     different O'Connors.  But it all worked out in the end.  We have a
     new RC, and now that Mike is gone, my pain in the ass has
     disappeared. Use a bit more lube next time, Mike.

     Mike is probably glad he didn't stick around to read this little
     gem, posted after the election by Creepin' Moses:


     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     From:    Mike O'Connor                          Area: REG12 - (914)
     To:      Mike O'Connor                           4 Nov 99 11:41:38
     Subject: My vote

      MO> It's truly a sad state of affairs when mail forgery is
      MO considered funny.

     I fucked your mother.

     --- Maximus 3.01
      * Origin: Mo me or blow me. (1:163/151)
     -------------------------------------------------------------------


     ...Steve


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

                             HMS PeenaFour
                       Steve Fredette, 1:163/551


     I wrote this a little while back as part of my campaign in the
     region 12 election.  I had originally planned to submit it to
     fidonews then, but it slipped my mind.


     HMS PeenaFour
     -------------

     (Apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan)

     Steve:   I am the very model of a fido RC clerical,
              I've information technical and social and political,
              I've memorized the nodelist flags, I quote P4 (but cynical),
              From Intro to Case Histories, in order categorical;
              I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters protocolical,
              I understand the data link, both physical and logical,
              I know precicely what is meant by Yoohoo, Janus and Wazoo,
              My mailer handshakes easily with Opus, Frontdoor, Binkley
                 too.
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 12                  15 Nov 1999


     All:     His mailer handshakes easily, etc.

     Steve:   I'm very good at tinkering with interrupts and data bus,
              I'll fix the problems y2k that will inflame and pester us,
              In short, in matters technical and social and political,
              I am the very model of a fido RC clerical.

     ALL:     In short, in matters technical and social and political,
              He is the very model of a fido RC clerical.


     Steve:   I know our region's history, from Ennis to Cliff Morrison,
              I have copies of all the notes from secretive Z1REGCON,
              I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Ricky Johnston, but,
              I've had enough of flaming from that nonsensical Hillis nut.
              I castigate my fido foes, delight in driving them berserk,
              I've spent long hours finding ways of pissing off that Satti
                 jerk,
              But fools no longer bother me, I have the capability,
              My filter has no problem nuking all the drivel from RanD.

     All:     His filter has no problem, etc.

     Steve:   Then I can write a parody and mail it to fidonews,
              And tell you ev'ry detail of things and persons that amuse,
              In short, in matters technical and social and political,
              I am the very model of a fido RC clerical.

     ALL:     In short, in matters technical and social and political,
              He is the very model of a fido RC clerical.



     I spent perhaps 20 hours writing that damn thing, grepping through
     dictionaries and policy4 and even the ftsc docs looking for rhyming
     words.  And when I was done I found that my neural pathways were
     completely rearranged, and I could think of nothing else.  I
     followed up a few days later with:


        The major problem with a silly Major General parody,
        Is the extent to which the song invades my mental faculty,
        Now everything I think about and all my writings amateur,
        Are always rhyming couplets in a quick hexadecameter.


     ...Steve


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

                               Spooky Anagrams
                            Thanks to Larry James
                             <larryj@europa.com


     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 13                  15 Nov 1999


     This is really spooky.....

     An anagram, as you all know, is a word or phrase made by or
     rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. The following are
     exceptionally clever.

     Someone out there either has way too much time to waste or is deadly
     at Scrabble.

            Word                         When you rearrange the letters

      ----------------------------------------------------------------
            Dormitory                            Dirty Room
            Desperation                         A Rope Ends It
            The Morse Code                      Here come Dots
            Slot Machines                      Cash Lost in 'em
            Animosity                            Is No Amity
            Mother-in-law                        Woman Hitler
            Snooze Alarms                     Alas! No More Z's
            Alec Guinness                       Genuine Class
            Semolina                             Is No Meal
            The Public Art Galleries      Large Picture Halls, I Bet
            A Decimal Point                   I'm a Dot in Place
            The Earthquakes                    That Queer Shake
            Eleven plus two                    Twelve plus one
            Contradiction                      Accord not in it
            Astronomer                           Moon Starer
            Princess Diana                    End Is A Car Spin

            AND HERE IS THE MOST INTRIGUING PART

            Year Two Thousand                A Year To Shut Down


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

                        ITU-T Standards/Recommendation
                                   V Series
                      Thanks to David Hallford, 1:208/0

     Series V - Data communication over the telephone network - General

     V.1 Version 11/1988     Equivalence between binary notation symbols
                             and the significant conditions of a
                             two-condition code

     V.2 Version 11/1988     Power levels for data transmission over
                             telephone lines

     V.3 None

     V.4 Version 11/1988     General structure of signals of
                             international alphabet No. 5 code for
                             character oriented data transmission over
                             public telephone networks

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 14                  15 Nov 1999


     V.5 None

     V.6 None

     V.7 Version 11/1988     Definitions of terms concerning data
                             communication over the telephone network

     V.8 Version 2/1998      Procedures for starting sessions of data
                             transmission over the public switched
                             telephone network

     V.9 None


         Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
                    Interfaces and voiceband modems

     V.10 Version 3/1993     Electrical characteristics for unbalanced
                             double-current interchange circuits
                             operating at data signalling rates nominally
                             up to 100 kbit/s

                             This Recommendation is also included but not
                             published in X series  under alias number
                             X.26

     V.11 Version 10/1996    Electrical characteristics for balanced
                             double-current interchange circuits
                             operating at data signalling rates up to 10
                             Mbit/s

                             This Recommendation is also included but not
                             published in X series under alias number
                             X.27

     V.12 Version 8/1995     Electrical characteristics for balanced
                             double-current interchange circuits for
                             interfaces with data signalling rates up to
                             52 Mbit/s

     V.13 Version 3/1993     Simulated carrier control

     V.14 Version 3/1993     Transmission of start-stop characters over
                             synchronous bearer channels

     V.15 Version 11/1988    Use of acoustic coupling for data
                             transmission

     V.16 Version 11/1988    Medical analogue data transmission modems

     V.17 Version 2/1991     A 2-wire modem for facsimile applications
                             with rates up to 14 400 bit/s

     V.18 Version 2/1998     Operational and interworking requirements
                             for DCEs operating in the text telephone
                             mode
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 15                  15 Nov 1999


     V.19 Version 11/1988    Modems for parallel data transmission using
                             telephone signalling frequencies

     V.20 None

     V.21 Version 11/1988    300 bits per second duplex modem
                             standardized for use in the general switched
                             telephone network

     V.22 Version 11/1988    1200 bits per second duplex modem
                             standardized for use in the general switched
                             telephone network and on point-to-point
                             2-wire leased telephone-type circuits

     V.22 bis Version 11/1988 2400 bits per second duplex modem using the
                              frequency division technique standardized
                              for use on the general switched telephone
                              network and on point-to-point 2-wire leased
                              telephone-type circuits

     V.23 Version 11/1988    600/1200-baud modem standardized for use in
                             the general switched telephone network

     V.24 Version 10/1996    List of definitions for interchange circuits
                             between data terminal equipment (DTE) and
                             data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE)

     V.25 Version 10/1996    Automatic answering equipment and general
                             procedures for automatic calling equipment
                             on the general switched telephone network
                             including procedures for disabling of echo
                             control devices for both manually and
                             automatically established calls

     V.25 bis Version 10/1996 Synchronous and asynchronous automatic
                              dialling procedures on switched networks

     V.26 Version 11/1988    2400 bits per second modem standardized for
                             use on 4-wire leased telephone-type circuits

     V.26 bis Version 11/1988 2400/1200 bits per second modem
                              standardized for use in the general
                              switched telephone network

     V.26 ter Version 11/1988 2400 bits per second duplex modem using the
                              echo cancellation technique standardized
                              for use on the general switched telephone
                              network and on point-to-point 2-wire leased
                              telephone-type circuits

     V.27 Version 11/1988    4800 bits per second modem with manual
                             equalizer standardized for use on leased
                             telephone-type circuits

     V.27 bis Version 11/1988 4800/2400 bits per second modem with
                              automatic equalizer standardized for use on
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 16                  15 Nov 1999


                              leased telephone-type circuits

     V.27 ter Version 11/1988 4800/2400 bits per second modem
                              standardized for use in the general
                              switched telephone network

     V.28 Version 3/1993     Electrical characteristics for unbalanced
                             double-current interchange circuits

     V.29 Version 11/1988    9600 bits per second modem standardized for
                             use on point-to-point 4-wire leased
                             telephone-type circuits

     V.30 None

     V.31 Version 11/1988    Electrical characteristics for
                             single-current interchange circuits
                             controlled by contact closure

     V.31 bis Version 11/1988 Electrical characteristics for
                              single-current interchange circuits using
                              optocouplers

     V.32 Version 3/1993     A family of 2-wire, duplex modems operating
                             at data signalling rates of up to 9600 bit/s
                             for use on the general switched telephone
                             network and on leased telephone-type
                             circuits

     V.32 bis Version 2/1991 A duplex modem operating at data signalling
                             rates of up to 14 400 bit/s for use on the
                             general switched telephone network and on
                             leased point-to-point 2-wire telephone-type
                             circuits

     V.33 Version 11/1988    14 400 bits per second modem standardized
                             for use on point-to-point 4-wire leased
                             telephone-type circuits

     V.34 Version 2/1998     A modem operating at data signalling rates
                             of up to 33 600 bit/s for use on the general
                             switched telephone network and on leased
                             point-to-point 2-wire telephone-type
                             circuits

         Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
         Wideband modems

     V.36 Version 11/1988    Modems for synchronous data transmission
                             using 60-108 kHz group band circuits

     V.37 Version 11/1988    Synchronous data transmission at a data
                             signalling rate higher than 72 kbit/s using
                             60-108 kHz group band circuits

     V.38 Version 10/1996    A 48/56/64 kbit/s data circuit-terminating
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 17                  15 Nov 1999


                             equipment standardized for use on digital
                             point-to-point leased circuits

     V.39 None

         Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
         Error control

     V.41 Version 11/1988    Code-independent error-control system

     V.42 Version 10/1996    Error-correcting procedures for DCEs using
                             asynchronous-to-synchronous conversion

     V.42 bis Version 1/1990 Data compression procedures for data
                             circuit- terminating equipment (DCE) using
                             error correction procedures

     V.43 Version 2/1998     Data flow control

     V.44 None
     thru
     V.49

         Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
         Transmission quality and maintenance

     V.50 Version 11/1988    Standard limits for transmission quality of
                             data transmission

     V.51 None               See M.729

     V.52 None

     V.53 Version 11/1988    Limits for the maintenance of telephone-type
                             circuits used for data transmission

     V.54 Version 11/1988    Loop test devices for modems

     V.55 None               See O.71

     V.56 Version 11/1988    Comparative tests of modems for use over
                             telephone-type circuits

     V.56 bis Version 8/1995 Network transmission model for evaluating
                             modem performance over 2-wire voice grade
                             connections

     V.56 ter Version 8/1996 Test procedure for evaluation of 2-wire 4
                             kHz voiceband duplex modems

                             This Recommendation includes 2 diskettes
                             containing the data files used for the
                             throughput tests

     V.57 None

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 18                  15 Nov 1999


     V.58 Version 9/1994     Management information model for V-Series
                             DCEs

     V.59 None

         Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
         Simultaneous transmission of data and other signals

     V.60 None

     V.61 Version 8/1996     A simultaneous voice plus data modem,
                             operating at a voice plus data signalling
                             rate of 4800 bit/s, with optional automatic
                             switching to data-only signalling rates of
                             up to 14400 bit/s, for use on the General
                             Switched Telephone Network and on leased
                             point-to- point 2-wire telephone type
                             circuits

     V.62 None
     thru
     V.69

     V.70 Version 8/1996     Procedures for the simultaneous transmission
                             of data and digitally encoded voice signals
                             over the GSTN, or over a 2-wire leased
                             point-to-point telephone type circuits

     V.71 None
     thru
     V.74

     V.75 Rec Version 8/1996 DSVD terminal control procedures Session
                             establishment using V.75/H.245 procedures

     V.76 Rec Version 8/1996 Generic multiplexer using V.42 LAPM-based
                             procedures

     V.77 None
     thru
     V.79

     V.80 Version 8/1996     In-band DCE control and synchronous data
                             modes for asynchronous DTE

     V.81 None
     Thru
     V.89

     V.90 Version 9/1998     A digital modem and analogue modem pair for
                             use on the Public Switched Telephone Network
                             (PSTN) at data signalling rates of up to
                             56000 bit/s downstream and up to 33 600
                             bit/s upstream

     V.91 None
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 19                  15 Nov 1999


     thru
     V100

        Series V - Data communication over the telephone network
        Control procedures

     V.250 Version 2/1998    Serial asynchronous automatic dialling and
                             control Published as V.25 ter (07/97),
                             renumbered in february 98 without being
                             republished

     V.251 Version 2/1998    Procedure for DTE-controlled call
                             negotiation Published as Annex A to V.25 ter
                             (07/97), renumbered in february 98 without
                             being republished

     V.252 Version 2/1998    Procedure for control of V.70 and H.324
                             terminals by a DTE

         Series M - TMN and network maintenance: international
         transmission systems, telephone circuits, telegraphy, facsimile
         and leased circuits International telephone circuits


     M.729 Version 11/1988   Organization of the maintenance of
     (V.51)                  international public switched telephone
                             circuits used for data transmission This
                             Recommendation is also included but not
                             published in V series under alias number
                             V.51

         Series O - Specifications of measuring equipment
         Equipment for the measurement of analogue parameters

     O.71 Version 11/1988    Impulsive noise measuring equipment for
     (V.55)                  telephone-type circuits This Recommendation
                             is also included but not published in V
                             series under alias number V.55 and in H
                             series under alias number H.13


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     North American Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]
     by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/9
     lisa@psg.com

     Summary of NAB echo changes during Sep & Oct.

     Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.

     diff backbone.na 05-Sep-99 backbone.na 07-Nov-88 [edited].

     Echotag name change
     -------------------
     Note: UNUSUAL_PETS (added in Jul-Aug) is the new echotag for
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 20                  15 Nov 1999


           CHAMELEON (shown removed below)

     Added to the NAB list of echos
     ------------------------------
     > BIKE-N-RIDER        Motorcycle Riders, Bike Safety and Riding
     > ECHORESCUE          Echo Tag Rescue Echo
     > ELYSIUM             Elysium Software
     > ITALIANO            Italians do it better
     > LINUX-USER          Linux user
     > OFFICE_SUPPORT      Microsoft Office Discussion and Support
     > PORTUGUES           Porugues
     > QUEEN_FOR_A_DAY     Lets you play queen for the day
     > SHAKESPEARE         Discussion about William Shakespeare
     > THINKPRO            Think Productions Software Group
     > THOM-TOM            Is Thom also Tom Discussion Conference!

     Removed from the NAB list of echos
     ----------------------------------
     < 4MODSONLY           For Moderator's ONLY Echo!
     < CFS                 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
     < CHAMELEON           EXOTIC ANIMAL OWNERSHIP AND DISCUSSION
     < CIVIL_WAR           Civil War History Echo
     < COMIC_RELIEF        G-rated On-line Stand-up Comedy Shtick
     < IFTP_SUPPORT        iFTP Support
     < MILLENNIUM          Windows MILLENNIUM software Echo!
     < SCUBA               Scuba Diving
     < SUPER-BASTARD       Super Bastards Echo
     < TWIT                Twit's Echo!
     < Z1-ELECTION         Alternate Z1C Election discussion area

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     o There are 751 echos in backbone.na [07-Nov-99] (unchanged)

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     Z1 Backbone Echo Changes [Sep-Oct]
     by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/9
     lisa@psg.com

     Summary of Z1B echo changes during Sep & Oct.

     Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff.

     diff backbone.z1b 05-Sep-99 backbone.z1b 07-Sep-99 [edited].

     Echotag name change
     -------------------
     > UNUSUAL_PETS        Unusual Pets Echo!      [new echotag name]
     < CHAMELEON           EXOTIC ANIMAL OWNERSHIP [old echotag name]

     Added to the Z1B list of echos
     ------------------------------
     > EDGE_ONLINE         End Times - Mystery Babylon and the Beast 666
     > HARDWARE            Computer Hardware & Peripherals
     > ITALIANO            Italians do it better
     > LINUX-USER          Linux user
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 21                  15 Nov 1999


     > MOTOR_SPORTS_RESULTS Various Motor Sports Results!
     > OFFICE_SUPPORT      Microsoft Office Discussion and Support
     > PORTUGUES           Portuguese Language Chat Echo
     > QUEEN_FOR_A_DAY     Lets you play queen for the day
     > THOM-TOM            Is Thom also Tom Discussion Conference!
     > TRANSCAN            TransCanadian Soapbox echo

     Removed from the Z1B list of echos
     ----------------------------------
     < 4MODSONLY           For Moderator's ONLY Echo!
     < BLINDTLK            Blindness-related topics and discussions
     < C&C                 Command & Conquer echo
     < CFS                 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
     < CIVIL_WAR           Civil War History Echo
     < COMIC_RELIEF        G-rated On-line Stand-up Comedy Shtick
     < DND                 D&D and Fantasy Role-Playing conference.
     < F_I_D_O_E_R_R_O_R_S fIDO ERRORS
     < FIDOGEN             Fidonet Genealogy Sysop Discussions Echo
     < GAF.CHAT            German-American Friendship Networks Chat Echo
     < HOMESCHL            Homeschooling support echo
     < IFTP_SUPPORT        iFTP Support
     < INK                 Desktop Publishing & Word Processing Support
     < INTERGREEK          Int'l Greek Conference (English language)
     < LAW_&_ORDER         Law Enforcement Issues
     < MACSYSOP            Macintosh Sysop's Conference
     < MALUM_PROHIBITUM    Malum prohibitum discussions
     < MEDIEVAL            Medieval studies, re-creation, arts, etc.
     < MICHIGAN            GENERAL CHAT FOR MICHIGAN
     < MILLENNIUM          Windows MILLENNIUM software Echo!
     < MS_WORD             Microsoft Word Users Support Conference
     < NCSSA               Nat'l Coalition of Sysops and Systems Admins
     < NEWAGE_THOUGHT      New Age Thought and Discussion
     < NORTH_CAROLINA      GENERAL CHAT FOR NORTH CAROLINA
     < OPENDOORS           OpenDoors Door Programming Toolkit Discussion
     < PROWRITE            Professional Writers' Conference
     < PRO_LIFE            Pro-Life Question and Answer Forum
     < QUAKE               Discussion of id Software's Quake
     < ROOTS_MUSIC         Roots of Music Discussion
     < RTTY                Amateur & Commercial Radio-Teletype Technology
     < SCUBA               Scuba Diving
     < SPINAL_INJURY       Spinal Cord Injury Topics
     < SPIRITUAL           Spirituality and World Peace
     < STAMPS              Stamp collecting discussion
     < SUPER-BASTARD       Super Bastards Echo
     < TWIT                Twit's Echo!
     < VFIDO               VADV/VBBS & VFIDO Technical Support
     < ZCC_SUNSHINE        Crosspost msgs from ZCC-closed-conference
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     o There are 630 echos in backbone.z1b [07-Oct-99] (down 28)

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 22                  15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                                  COLUMNS
     =================================================================


     ! = New entries this week
     ? = not responding
     ?? = unknown content, doesn't look like fidonet

                       . -- -- -- -- --- -- -- -- -- .
                       |    FIDONET-RELATED SITES    |
                       ` -- -- -- -- --- -- -- -- -- '
                          Last update:  Nov 13, 1999

     FidoNet
     Homepage:     http://www.fidonet.org
     FidoNews:     http://www.fidonews.org   [HTML]
                   ftp://sstar.com/fidonet/fnews/
     SDS Files:    http://fidobbs.dk/download (Web Access to SDS)
     FTSC page:    http://www.ftsc.org/
     General:      http://owls.com/~jerrys/fidonet.html
     List server:  http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/fidonet-discussion

     Zone 1:       http://www.z1.fidonet.org
       Region 10:  http://www.psnw.com/~net205/region10.html
                   http://www.tnl-online.com/andy/rgn10.htm
         Net 103:  http://www.webworldinc.com/club103/
       Region 11:  http://oeonline.com/~garyg/region11/
        Net 2410:  http://oeonline.com/~garyg/net2410/
       Region 13:  http://www.net264.org/r13.htm
         Net 264:  http://www.net264.org/
       Region 14:
         Net 282:  http://www.rxn.com/~net282/
       Region 17:  http://www.nwstar.com/~region17/
       Region 18:  http://techshop.pdn.net/fido/
       Region 19:  http://members.home.net/hbh3/r19
         Net 124:  http://www.startext.net/np/net124
                   http://texoma.net/~flv
         Net 130:  http://www.startext.net/homes/net130
         Net 393:  http://www.chatter.com/~wb/
     Zone 1 Elist  http://members.xoom.com/echolist/

     Zone 2:       http://www.z2.fidonet.org
       Region 20:  http://www.fidonet.pp.se (in Swedish)
       Region 23:  http://www.fido.dk (in Danish)

       Region 24:  http://www.swb.de/personal/flop/gatebau.html (German)
         Fido-IP:  http://home.nrh.de/fido/ (English/German)
       Region 25:  http://www.literary.freeserve.co.uk/net2502/
       Region 26:  http://www.nemesis.ie
          REC 26:  http://www.nrgsys.com/orb
       Region 27:  http://telematique.org/ft/r27.htm
       Region 29:  http://www.rtfm.be/fidonet/  (French)
       Region 30:  http://www.fidonet.ch  (German)
     ? Region 33:  http://www.fidoitalia.net  (Italian)
       Region 34:  http://www.pobox.com/cnb/r34.htm  (Spanish)
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 23                  15 Nov 1999


           REC34:  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/4552/
       Region 36:  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/7207/
       Region 38:  http://public.st.carnet.hr/~blagi/bbs/adriam.html
       Region 41:  http://www.fidonet.gr (Greek/English)
       Region 42:  http://www.fido.cz
       Region 50:  http://www.fido7.com/  (Russian)
        Net 5010:  http://fido.tu-chel.ac.ru/  (Russian)
        Net 5015:  http://www.fido.nnov.ru/  (Russian)
        Net 5030:  http://kenga.ru/fido/  (Russian & English)
        Net 5049:  http://www.n5049.z2.fidonet.org  (English/Russian)
     ??  Net 5085:  http://www.fidonet.uz/ (Russian)

     Zone 3:       http://www.z3.fidonet.org

     Zone 4:
       Region 80:  http://fidobrasil.8m.com  (Portuguese)
       Region 90:
         Net 904:  http://members.tripod.com/~net904 (Spanish)

     Zone 5:       http://www.eastcape.co.za/fidonet/

     Zone 6:       http://www.z6.fidonet.org
       Region 65:  http://www.cfido.com/fidonet/cfidochina.html
                   (Chinese)


                          Fidonet Via Internet Hubs

     a @ preceding an individual's name implies a virtual email
     address. The email is translated as follows
     firstlast@osirusoft.com will automatically route to the
     appropriate individual's email.  Anyone in this list will
     also receive routed notice of this feature.  In my case, it
     would still be joejared@osirusoft.com, but you get the idea.

                v-email flag firstnamelastname@osirusoft.com
                | email address or
     Node#      | Operator          | Facilities (*) | Speed | Basic Rate
     -----------+-------------------+----------------+-------+------------
     Zone 1     |                   |                |       |
       10/3     @ Brenda Donovan    | FTP,UUE,BinkP  | T1?   | $??/$10
       12/12    | Ken Wilson        | FTP            | T1    | $24mo.
       13/25    @ Jim Balcom        | FTP            | 56k   | $20mo.
      103/153   @ Michael Box       | BinkP          | aDSL  | n/c
      103/301   @ Joe Jared         | BinkP          | aDSL  | n/c
      105/8     | Russ Johnson      | FTP,BinkP,VMoT | 384k  | n/c
      105/72    @ Larry James       | FTP            | aDSL  | $5/$15 mo.
      106/1     @ Matt Bedynek      | BinkP, FTP     | 128k  | n/c
      106/6018  | Lawrence Garvin   | FTP, VMoT      | aDSL  | n/c
      140/1     @ Bob Seaborn       | FTP            | T3    | $5/$16
      167/133   | Stephen Monteith  | BinkP          | 128k+ | n/c
      211/417   @ Korombos          | BinkD,UUE,FTP  | T1    | n/c
      246/160   @ Mason Vye         | FTP, UUE       | 56K   | n/c
      270/101   @ George Peace      | FTP            | 6mbps | $20mo.
      271/140   | Tom Barstow       | UUE            | T1    | n/c
      280/169   | Brian Greenstreet | FTP            | 33.6  | $2mo.
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 24                  15 Nov 1999


      342/3     | Richard Dodsworth | BinkP,FTP      | 128K+ | n/c
      345/0     @ Todd Cochrane     | FTP            | T1    | n/c
      396/1     @ John Souvestre    | FTP,VMoT       | T1    | $10/mo
      396/45    | Marc Lewis        | UUE            | 33.6  | $26/yr
     2401/305   | Peter Rocca       | FTP,UUE        | T1    | unkn
     2424/101   | Kari Suomela   | FTP,VMoT,BinkP,UUE| T1    | n/c
     2604/104   | Jim Mclaughlin    | FTP,VMoT,UUE   | 33.6  | $1mo
     3613/2     @ jyates@bsdi.ldl.net | UUE            | 28.8  | n/c
     2613/404   @ David Moufarrege  | BinkP,FTP,VMoT | 128k+ | n/c
     2624/306   @ D. Calafrancesco  | VMoT           | 33.6  | n/c
     3632/84    | Robert Todd    |FTP,VMoT,UUE,BinkP | 57.6k | n/c
     3639/93    @ Ross Cassell      | FTP, BinkP     | 128K+ | n/c
     3651/9     | Jerry Gause       | FTP,VMoT       | 33.6  | $3/$6
     3803/1     @ Ben Ritchey       | UUE            | 56k   | n/c
     --------------------------------------------------------------
     Zone 2     |
       20/11    | Henrik Lindhe     | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
       31/1     | Gabriel Plutzar   | BinkP          | T1+   | n/c
      203/600   | Mikael Karlsson   | UUE            | 64k   | n/c
      221/360   @ Tommi Koivula     | BinkP,UUE      | ???   | n/c
      236/205   @ Michael Kaaber    | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      246/2098  | Volker Imre       | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      284/800   | Jeroen VanDeLeur  | FTP,UUE        | 64k   | n/c
      292/626   | Filip Ruymen      | Binkp, UUE     | 128K+ | n/c
      292/2003  | Eric Vaneberck    | BinkP          | 768k  | n/c

      301/1     | Peter Witschi     | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      332/807   | Roberto Mascolo   | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      335/535   @ Mario Mure        | BinkP,VMot,UUE | 64k   | n/c
      335/610   | Gino Lucrezi      | UUE            | 33.6  | n/c
      344/201   | Julio Garcia      | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      346/3     @ Carlos Navarro    | UUE            | ???   | n/c
      382/100   | Sinisa Burina     | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      406/555   | Marius Kaizerman  | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      406/555   | Ofir Michaeli &   | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      423/81    | Milos Bajer       | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
      464/4077  | Serguei Trouchelle| UUE            | 19.2  | n/c
      465/204   | Va Milushnikov    | BinkP          | 33.6k | n/c
      469/84    | Max Masyutin      | VMoT           | 256k  | n/c
      480/112   | Adam Sarapata| FTP, VMoT, UUE,BinkP| 128k  | n/c
     2411/413   @ Dennis Dittrich   | UUE,BinkP      | 64k   | n/c
     2446/301   | Lothar Behet | BinkP,VMoT,UUE,FTP  | 64K   | n/c
     2474/275   | Christian Emig    | UUE            | 64k   | unkn
     5030/115   | Andrey Podkolzin  | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
     5100/8     | Egons Bush        | BinkP          | ???   | n/c
     5020/1159  | Gennady Kudryashoff | UUE          | 33.6  | n/c
     --------------------------------------------------------------
     Zone 3
      633/260   @ Malcolm Miles     | FTP,BinkP      | 64K   | n/c
      640/954   | Rick Van Ruth     | FTP,VMot,UUE,BinkP| 56K| n/c
      774/605   @ Barry Blackford|BinkP,VMoT:10023,ifcico,FTP |33.6| n/c

     --------------------------------------------------------------
     Zone 4
      905/100   | Fabian Gervan     | VMoT,UUE,BinkP | 128k  | n/c
      902/18    | Javier Tejedor    | UUE            | 33,6  | n/c
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 25                  15 Nov 1999


     --
     * FTP   = Internet File Transfer Protocol
     * VMoT  = Virtual Mailer over Telnet (various)
     * UUE   = uuencode<->email type transfers
     * BinkP = front end mailer for TCPIP networks

     ----------------------------------------------
     Fidonet oriented news servers

     news.osirusoft.com  (US west coast)
     agnese.fidoitalia.net (Italy)

     Fidonet oriented chat rooms.

     room #fidonet  5PM (PDT 11AM GMT) Sundays
     irc.isonline.com
     irc.killaz-r-us.com
     irc.korombos.org


     ----------------------------------------------

     Please send updates, corrections and suggestions to
     Joe Jared, 1:103/301, joejared@osirusoft.com, and
     complaints to jarhead@osirusoft.com .


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

            Medication for Fight-O-net's History of WAR
                     compiled by Ol'WDB
                                Hugs
            No moving parts, no batteries.
            No monthly payments and no fees;
            Inflation proof, nontaxable,
            In fact, it's quite relaxable;

            It can't be stolen, won't pollute,
            One size fits all, do not dilute.
            It uses little energy,
            But yields results enormously.

            Relieves your tension and your stress,
            Invigorate your happiness;
            Combats depression, makes you beam,
            And elevates your self esteem!

            Your circulation it corrects!
            Without unpleasant side effects
            It is, I think, the perfect drug:
            May I prescribe, my friend,... the hug!

            (and, of course, fully returnable!)   I like that part best...
                                         ***ALSO***
            HAVE YOU HUGGED A FRIEND TODAY?
                          ( ^ )_( ^ ) ( ^ )_( ^)
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 26                  15 Nov 1999


                          /     o  o)   (o  o    \
                      __/      (    |   |    )     \___
                    (_ /           *     *           \_)
                     /                \/             | \
                     |                |        |     |  |
                     |    |           |         \__/    |
                     \__/             |                /
                        |              |               /
                                   /  \           /
                 <____,---,___)   (____/ (____
                        Hugged  &  Hugger

                 I will not play Tug O' War
                 I'd rather play Hug O' War...
                 Where everyone hugs,
                 no one feathers and tars,
                 also no disparaging tugs.

                 Instead of the royal finger,
                 or the nasty belittling note,
                 addressed to a foe in anger
                 send a HUG and then emote.

                 Where everyone is polite,
                 and everyone grins...
                 everyone cuddles tight,
                 and everyone wins.
                                                       Ol'wdb


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     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 27                  15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
                                 NET HUMOR
     =================================================================

                          The Grand Emir Is Thirsty
                              Thanks to Roy Reed
                               rcreedv@juno.com

     An Arab diplomat visiting the US for the first time was being wined
     and dined by the State Department.  The Grand Emir was unused to the
     salt in American foods (french fries, cheeses, salami, anchovies
     etc.) and was constantly sending his manservant Abdul to fetch him a
     glass of water.

     Time and again, Abdul would scamper off and return with a glass of
     water, but then came the time when he returned empty-handed.

     "Abdul, you son of an ugly camel, where is my water?"  demanded the
     Grand Emir.

     "A thousand pardons, O Illustrious One,"  stammered the wretched
     Abdul, "white man sit on well."

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

                          Subject: Poetry contest...
                               Thanks to Ol'WDB

     The finals of the National Poetry Contest last year came down to two
     finalists. One was a San Francisco State University graduate from an
     upper crust family; well-bread, well-connected, and all that goes
     with it.

     The other finalist was a redneck from Texas A&M. A self-proclaimed
     die-hard Aggie. Go figure.

     The rules of the contest required each finalist to compose a
     four-line poem in one minute or less, and the poem had to contain
     the word "Timbuktu".

     The San Francisco State graduate went first. About thirty seconds
     after the clock started he jumped up and recited the following poem:

                 "Slowly across the desert sand
                  Trekked the dusty caravan.
                  Men on camels, two by two
                  Destination-Timbuktu."

     The audience went wild!!! How, they wondered could the redneck top
     that?!

     The clock started again and the redneck sat in silent thought.
     Finally, in the last few seconds, he jumped and recited:

                 "Tim and me, a-huntin' went.
                 Met three whores in a pop-up tent.
     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 28                  15 Nov 1999


                 They was three, we was two,
                 So I bucked one and Timbuktu."


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     FIDONEWS 16-46               Page 29                  15 Nov 1999


     =================================================================
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                                   Masthead

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