±±±±±±Ü ±±Ü ±±±Üܱ±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ü ±±±Üܱ±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ûß±±Û ±±Û ±±Û±±Û±±Û ±±Ûßßßß ß±±Ûßß ±±Û ±±Û±±Û±±Û ±±Ûßßßß ±±Ûßßßß ±±±±±Ûß ±±Û ±±Û ßß±±Û ±±±±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ßß±±Û ±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ûß±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Ûßßß ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Ûßßß ßßß±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±±±±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Û ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßß --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ | EDITORS WELCOME | | RELAYNET'S ADOPTED FAMILY | | | | | +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ by John Dodson, node ->CANTINA. by Drew Allen, RIME Super User. Welcome to the first edition of I made numerous contacts with RIME Times, RelayNet's monthly ( we people I know in the affected areas hope) newsletter. Here we are, seeking needy families who lost it starting a new Decade, a newly re- all. I focused my attention on the structured RelayNet and a new mountain communities and the Santa Newsletter. How quickly things Cruz area. The reason is that MUCH change! A monthly RelayNet attention is being focused on San newsletter may never seem very up Francisco, but some of the most to date or "newsy" in this fast- devastated areas are in the paced, electronic-mail world of mountains and around Santa Cruz. ours..... and that is ok. I see They don't receive as much the purpose of the newsletter as a attention in the media nor as much way for us to get to know each help, yet need it as much or more. other better and to help form a I've talked with Stuart Smith (the small part of the glue that keeps Sysop of COMPEASE) and we are in our network community together. agreement on working together and appreciative of the possibilities The newsletters success depends on of RelayNet's "Adopt a family" you, the users and sysops of idea. RelayNet. I encourage all of you to contribute. We are looking for: We have located a young family in Articles, Opinions, Stories, Aptos (close to Santa Cruz) who Reviews, Technical Hints, Parody, have two children in Soquel Anecdotes, Humor and any other Elementary School. Both their ideas that you may have. house and their business were destroyed. Therefore income is Although this first edition may not limited until they can rebuild be ready for leather binding, I their business and their home. think most will find something that They are living with friends in will interest or amuse. I hope you Boulder Creek about 15 miles away enjoy it and I hope you are making until they rebuild. The plans to contribute. I wish to destruction of their home and thank those that suggested and business was verified by three voted on the newsletter name. Your different people, including an comments are welcome, please drop official of the Soquel Elementary me a line via node ->CANTINA. School where the children attend. Thanks! They have no earthquake insurance - but do have an excellent attitude and appreciate all the efforts to Page 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- help. They have applied for Federal Assistance, but even though There are three levels of response it is a low interest loan, it does to a disaster: rescue, relief, and have to be repaid with interest. recovery. The first two have been Their need is in reconstruction of done. Recovery takes by far the their home. They need everything longest. As this is written, the necessary to rebuild a home. All World Series has just resumed, who want to come assist in the symbolizing the restoration of a demolition and reconstruction are normal life. While that is the welcome, it will help lower case for many, families such as Tom expenses. All types of Sayous will be involved in the construction need exists: plumber, recovery process for many months. electrician, carpenter, cement, foundation, painter, etc. And all Thanks to you and all who the materials for building are participate to make this process a needed, from lumber and nails, to little shorter and easier to bear. insulation, plumbing, paint, Donations of materials need to be concrete, furnace and ducts, etc. sent directly to Tom Sayous at the They have to demolish what's left above address. If it is desired to and start from scratch. It will collect money in one lump sum, take some time for permits, plans, checks may be made payable to Tom etc., so if volunteers want to take Sayous and sent to the sysop of some time next spring or summer, it COMP-U-EASE for presentation as a could be an old fashioned "barn lump sum. Send checks to: raising" and the area is a marvelous one to visit. If a team COMP-U-EASE ,P.O. Box 4733, Santa comes and works together to Clara, CA. 95054-4833 rebuild, it will create a memorable experience. There is enough time I will coordinate (via to plan, promote and coordinate the Net) offers of workers to come such an event. Their immediate assist the rebuilding process as needs are being met by living with that thread develops. Donated friends. Their furnishings were not labor is desperately needed in MANY destroyed - just the house. This areas besides this one. I hope a is true for MOST people. good construction team can be Structures were destroyed, but assembled to come early next year. contents usually survived Definite dates will be set when reasonably well. They have more information is available, but clothes, furniture, etc. Some we can start thinking in that china and glassware were destroyed direction. It will be a MARVELOUS (we ALL got THAT) but the REAL need VACATION, and the weather is is a LONG TERM one in fantastic. It is exciting to reconstruction of their living contemplate what thousands of BBS quarters and getting their business people on 300+ boards will going again. Some inventory was accomplish. salvaged. Answers to various questions about The couples name: Mr. & Mrs. Tom our "adopted FAMILY": Sayous, 3500 Haas Drive, Aptos, California 95003 (408) 338-4041 1. Tom will try to get some Black (# where now living in Boulder and White Pictures for us to Creek) digitize for the network. Page 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- were interested in accessing the 2. His house was an older two National Library of Medicine bedroom & about 2500 sq. ft. Since database we purchased a 2400 baud he has a boy and a girl, he plans internal modem. The dealer who to make it at least a 3 bedroom in sold me the computer handed me a rebuilding, so each child will have DOS book and a list of local BBSs a separate room. to call. It took me about 2 months but I started calling the numbers 3. The chimney collapsed, wrecking on the list. That's how I met Joe the roof and crashing into the Gerardi and his board DataGate, living room. The interior walls filled with messages that appealed buckled, sagged, and cracked. It to me (until then I was a file hog, appears to be so extensively taking down hundreds of files and damaged that repair will cost as erasing them because I didn't know much as demolishing and building you needed to extract them!). I from scratch. tentatively started leaving messages on Joe's board, then got 4. He is sending me information more and more brazen leaving about his health food items. People controversial messages. It on the network can order by mail provided a wonderful break from my and that will be a help to him. day where I never get to talk about Further information on that in a what I think or feel, in fact never few days. pay any attention to my own feelings as it is an intrusion when 5. It will be some time before a doing therapy. Peter (my youngest) target date can be estimated. The was only 3 at the time and not much red tape and bureaucracy is as adult company. firmly entrenched as ever, if not more so. Rebuilding codes will be As with anything I do that I get stringent! interested in, I spend more time with it and learn more. At that 6. He is considering trying to time my relationship with Howard, divide his lot and sell half of my brother, began to pick up (we it in order to finance materials had not really been very close for for reconstruction. years) as he had a computer too and had been calling BBS's for years. +---------------------------------+ We began to talk about how hard it | WHO'S WHO IN RELAYNET | was for a beginner to learn about | | computers and how wonderful BBSs +---------------------------------+ were and that maybe we should write This Month: Bonnie Anthony - a book. Which we did. To transfer Network Operations Officer, node the data between us we used ->RUNNINGA. MiniHost. Then we decided that that would never work and took the In December 1986 for my birthday my plunge and bought PCBoard, all with husband bought me a computer. The the idea of transferring our reason I wanted a computer? writing and using the BBS as sort Because Scott, my son, was getting of a help for our book. into computers and patients were talking about computers and I knew Our book didn't sell quickly, I nothing about them at all. So we couldn't set up PCboard and finally purchased a Kaypro, and because we Joe Gerardi came over one afternoon Page 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and set it up for me and then I set returned to the network as I it up for Howard over the phone. thought he was kicked off for We were in business! Joe invited ridiculous reasons. After much me to a sysop meeting and there I maneuvering I won and I guess that met Bob Shuck who invited me to was my first introduction to being call his board. At the same time, a "force" on the network. There Howard and I decided to see if we were continuing terrible fights and couldn't transfer the messages Steve and Kip came to me and asked between our two boards, seeing this me to help them deal with the as a selling point for our book. situation since I seemed to have a Howard found Dave Garaffa of talent for mediation. I had an PCBmail, we purchased the software extra computer at that point (my and started in his network. In trusty Kaypro had been replaced by calling Bob Shucks board I noticed a 20 Mhz 386 with a 110 meg hard he had a small group of local disk!) which I loaned to Steve sysops who relayed together using (this is Steve Rogers,sysop of the PCBmail and I asked him if Howard old nethub) and one day we could join us as Dave's system was announced that he was now the new down more than it was up. Bob nethub running my old 8 Mhz Kaypro thought about it and said okay and with a brand new HST modem. We that made me his 13th node and held an election and miracle of Howard his 14th. I brought Joe miracles the current SC was elected Gerardi into the network with me (with the exception of Mike Labbe also. We had about 10 conferences who replaced Kip when he withdrew and all complained about how bad it as he felt a conflict of interest was to have to pack the existed). conferences. Bob was complaining to Kip about the packing and Kip The rest is history. Somehow my said he might be able to program psychiatric ability and training something that didn't need packing has enabled me to take most of the and over Easter of 1987 for a fights and get them calmed down and school project he wrote PCRelay get two angry people to deal with software. each other. Since I wasn't a computer expert at first it didn't When they announced one Friday bother me that people said our net evening at 10pm that we were all was unsophisticated and had a lot going to PCRelay right then and we of fights. I thought the former would all use DSZ (Zmodem) I was in would come with time and the latter a panic. I had no idea what DSZ was more a sign of allowing was! Steve Rogers and Kip worked dissension than of having miserable with me for about two hours and people. I called Salt Air and left Howard for about 5 hours setting up messages all over the place. I this new software. This is where went to Mark Herring, Jim Key, Andy we started. Keeves, Paul Waldinger anyone who could help our fledgling network As time went on we all became get bigger. Howard and I called all friends. Unfortunately all was not over the US wooing people, offering smooth sailing. Trouble brewed our friendship and our network to causing Howard to be cut from the them. Some took the bait - like network. Then my friend and mentor Mike Glen and people who had some Joe Gerardi was removed. I argued impact in their own region. Paul louder and louder for Joe to be Waldinger was wooed and we had our Page 5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- increase in sophistication. Things I hope to see you and your users in started to stabilize and the fights the ANSI Gallery, relay conf #109 decreased. soon! We grew and grew and grew... and +---------------------------------+ here we are! | SOFTWARE REVIEWS | | | Any questions, just ask and I will +---------------------------------+ be happy to answer. AlterCon 1.2 And by the way, I do call the by Wayne Chen, author of "The National Library of Medicine - Latest Versions List". about once a week - so the modem served its purpose! Ever have the problem of having to deal with multiple configurations? +---------------------------------+ I mean one minute you want to use | CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT | your word processor with a variety | | of TSRs to make sure you know +---------------------------------+ synonyms (Thesaurus), don't forget ANSI GALLERY conference #109 appointments (Alarm programs), and have a handy dictionary for instant by Justin Langseth, node ->EISHQ lookup of the meaning of words (Yes, a TSR dictionary exists!). Guess what all you ANSI freaks? Then the next minute you want to There is a place on RelayNet where use your database program which you can display your talents to the requires a full 640k RAM and a host rest of the network! It's the ANSI of other special commands in your Gallery Conference. The ANSI CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT (In Gallery has been in operation for other words, no TSRs can be about five months now and it installed unless they use higher averages about thirty messages a memory, assuming the program is day. About half of the messages capable of installing itself are ANSI pictures and half are there). Or do you want to use your messages about creating ANSI communications program with another pictures and music. variety of TSRs? Or do you just want a "Clean" system with no TSRs If you have made some ANSI opening and as much memory as possible to screens for your BBS, the rest of play a game or to test a program the network would love to see them. while tracking down in- Don't worry about BBS phone numbers compatibilities with other TSRs? and the like, as BBS ads are Or do you need a special setup for allowed in the ANSI Gallery -- as running a part-time BBS? Using long as they are ANSI. Desqview? Running a LAN setup? Use Windows? If you are tired of the bickering and fighting that is a daily Well I'm happy to say that the occurance in many RelayNet above problems of having to have so conferences, have no fear because many different configurations in the atmosphere in the ANSI Gallery relation to your AUTOEXEC.BAT and is friendly and helpfull. CONFIG.SYS can be alleviated in several ways. Page 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Have many complicated batch ones, where it will then copy over files which first install the TSRs the current A.BAT and C.SYS (Short then run the program then uninstall for AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS) the TSRs, assuming you use the with the newly selected ones (Which programs mark and release or each have a user-selectable similar type programs to give you extension and description), the ability to install a TSR then AlterCon consequently reboots the uninstall it at will. Of course if computer, then all you have to do you need to use Desqview for some is press return to select your new reason and find you need to install configuration and off you go! a device driver, well you'll have (Note: All A.BAT files should have to run another batch file that YOU AlterCon listed as the first make and have it copy an alternate program to run, this so as to be AUTOEXEC.BAT over the current one, able to switch freely upon bootup and in the new one you need it to to different configurations. copy the other one back. But if you want to set up the LAN If you would like to edit one of system.....(Did you understand all the configurations that is simpler that? Didn't think so...) than ever! All you do is highlight the setup you want to edit and 2. You could also make a menu either press F1 or F2, depending on system with a bunch of choices. Of whether you want to edit the C.SYS course the time one wants to spend or A.BAT. The editor is easy to use writing this batch file (Unless and is quite powerful! If it is the your a total batch-afficiondo) current configuration that you are would simply be too much for the editing and want the changes to normal computer user. take place immediately then all you have to do is press F5 to reboot So what is the answer to this the computer. madness? Well fortunately a MUCH simpler method exists! There are also several other nifty features to AlterCon.....such as: I now introduce to you to AlterCon. A. The ability to have a command AlterCon is a program that you line option to use monochrome should put at the very top of your colors. AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This is after B. Another command line option configuring it of course. The allows you to set a specific time documentation explains setup quite when the current configuration will simply, that's not what I'm writing automatically start if none is this for! :-) I'm here to detail selected.(Convenient when you start and explain some of the features the computer up, have a long A.BAT, that are included. and leave for a few moments. When you get back everything is ready to Once you are all configured go (No waiting for the long A.BAT (Accepts up to 9 different sets of to finish!). Of course if you knew AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files) ahead of time you wanted a you are presented with an elegant different configuration, you would looking menu system. From there, wait a moment and then select it all you do is either select either and then leave to perform the other the default configuration, or task. cursor over to one of the other Page 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. A review key to view the translate the old pascal-based data screen right before AlterCon files into the new C files. The loaded. Good for examining the old menu definition files will also contents of your C.SYS visually be transferrable. running. The new system will retain its As you can see AlterCon is a pretty compatibility with "doorware" useful program. Their is only one available for over thirty BBS gripe I have about it though, not systems. It will remain compatible color configurable. But the colors with a host of transfer protocols that are pre-set are quite nice, a including Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem, blue background with bright yellow, Bimodem, and Ymodem-G. It will bright white, and bright green also still be directly compatible text, nicely merged. Perhaps in a with the PCRelay BBS networking future version, which I expect to system. be forthcoming soon. This new version will have the OTHER INFO RELATED TO ALTERCON ability to read high-level BBS Definition Files while can be Author: Todd Scalzott: Metro written by Sysops to customize Consulting Group every aspect of their BBS system. Filedate: 10/15/89 This programming language will be Released as: ALTRCN12.ZIP powerful yet easily customized by Registration: $15 - Will give a Sysops. A secure electronic mail registration # to avoid a short and message base system are delay upon exit of program to run included in the standard library of AUTOEXEC.BAT. Size of program functions, along with file transfer executable file: 139k (Plus your capibilities. A.BAT and C.SYS files) Author can be reached VOICE at:(703)425-4845 As a service to its customers, American On-Line Systems will offer Here's a news release that we will the Personal Customization Service be sending out on the first. (PCS). Customers who subscribe to You're this optional service can write free to use it in the newsletter as detailed information on what they is, or edited... want their BBS to look like and do, including sample screens and menus. --- The programmers at American On-Line Systems will then create BBS EIS VERSION 3.0 ANNOUNCED Definition Files for the customer's application. For a small annual by Justin Langseth, node ->EISHQ fee, customers can request modifications to their BBS American On-Line Systems recently Definition Files at no extra announced that an upgrade to the charge. EIS BBS system will be available during the first quarter of 1990. For more information on EIS-PC This upgrade will a complete version 3.0, write to Justin rewrite of the EIS system using Langseth at American On-Line Borland's Turbo C language for Systems, 12 Thirteenth Avenue, greater speed and flexibility. The Warwick, RI, 02886-8428; call out system will include a utility to support BBS at (401)732-2169; or Page 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- leave a message to Justin Langseth ...tell him Miss Nettiquette thinks in the "Common" area of the he's being a BIG Relay Pooper! RelayNet International Message --- Exchange network. Dear Miss Nettiquette, +---------------------------------+ | KIPS TIPS | I am new to the BBS scene and have | | been using my modem for three +---------------------------------+ months. I started out calling PCRelay Hints from the Author Kip several BBS's in my vicinity, but Compton, node ->CONNECT now I only call one. The sysop of this BBS is so helpful when I have If you want to send a private a problem, he takes time to answer message and you don't know if the everybody's questions and just person has a private mail box, send knows everything about everything! the message private and routed. My problem is this: I think I have Routed private mail WILL be fallen in love with him! I have imported even if your sysop does never even seen him and now I just NOT allow private mail in that do not know what to do! conference. signed, Heart on Fire in VA +---------------------------------+ | ASK MISS NETIQUETTE! | Dear Heartburn, | | +---------------------------------+ You poor Child! Quick... go put Dear Miss Nettiquette your head in a bucket of ice water! now... do it again! Feeling My sysop strips all of the taglines better, I hope. A Sysop makes a on his BBS. I really want to see very poor choice for a boyfriend, what everybody is talking about lover or spouse. Let me explain: with these taglines! How can I Sysops spend ALL waking hours convince him not to do this? inside a dark computer room, sitting for hours in front of a CRT Signed, screen. As a result, their behinds Lonesome for some tags in WA become VERY wide, their complexion turns a milky white, green and orange phosphor accumulates around Dear Tagless, the nose and mouth and the smell of ASCII emanating from the computer What you may not realize is that room is enough to ....gag a maggot! some sysops would rather sacrifice If you are still not convinced that their first-born child than to give you need to look elsewhere, Miss up that extra 50-60K of disk space Nettiquette suggests another round to such frivolity as taglines! with the ice bucket! After all, this represents one --- tenth of one percent of that BIG hard drive of his! You might ask Dear Miss Nettiquette, him if its possible to pick up your mail in-between the times he makes I am a new RelayNet sysop. I have his mail run and strips the noticed some strange things taglines. If that's not possible happening in certain conferences. What happens is this: Two people Page 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAN RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- are having a rather heated via the Newsletters Host BBS, argument. One person seems to be ->CANTINA. some kind of authority and the other seems to be a fellow sysop or +---------------------------------+ user. I follow the messages for a | AS SEEN ON THE BIT STREAM | couple of days, but then the | | messages AND the sysop(or user) +---------------------------------+ disappear! I never see this person post another message and no one TAGLINE OF THE MONTH: ever mentions them or the topic "My Cow just died so I don't need they were arguing about! Do I have your Bull anymore". As seen on a my PCRelay software configured post by Debby Kryger. wrong or is something going on? BORING THREAD OF THE MONTH: signed, Baffled in Buffalo Longest Word. MALFUNCTION OF THE MONTH: Dear Buffaloed, Howard Belasco's spacebar..... (just kidding Howard). There is a small chance the argument was continued using MEMORABLE FLAME OF THE MONTH: private messages.... where it Toss up between "You sir, are on belonged in the first place. The dogfood!" and "You not only fell more likely possibility is that you off the last watermelon truck, the have stumbled upon the second potato truck ran over your head!" greatest mystery of all time. The first being, of course, the +---------------------------------+ extinction of the dinosaurs six | NOTICES | million years ago. Although you | | may find this hard to accept, BOTH +---------------------------------+ of these disappearances can be The RIME Times is published monthly attributed to the SAME thing: The by the membership of RelayNet Extinction Button, a.k.a. the International Message Exchange as Delete Key! We on RelayNet can its official newsletter. Users and only guess at the awesome nature of Sysops are encouraged to the Supreme Dieties who hold the contribute. Submissions and power of Instant Annihilation! So questions may be directed to the for now, Miss Nettiquette would editor John Dodson, node ->CANTINA. advise you NOT to bring up those topics! (c)Copyright 1990, The RelayNet --- International Message Exchange. Permission is hereby granted for READERS: Miss Nettiquette wants to unlimited distribution and wish everyone on RelayNet a Safe duplication, provided such and Prosperous New Year! 'Till distribution and duplication are next month.. Toodle-Loo! strictly for non-commercial purposes only. All other rights Have a RelayNet problem you can't reserved. RelayNet and RIME are seem to ask anyone about? Ask Miss registered trademarks. Nettiquette! (if you dare) You may route questions to Miss Netiquette