T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 +--------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | .----------------------. | dr.debug: dr.debug @ filegate.net | | | A monthly E-Zine | | bbslists: bbslists @ filegate.net | | | published by Fidonet | | articles: fidogazette @ filegate.net| | | to promote BBSing | +------------------------------------------+ | | ____________. | | | | / __ | "Anyone who has never made a mistake | | | / / \ | has never tried anything new." | | | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | Albert Einstein | | \_______\(_| /_) | | | \@/ \ | Got Something To Say? | | .---.\ _ | Say it in the | | (jk) _ |usb| \ \\ | =The FidoGazette= | | / | .___. \ ))| | | / | /_ | / \// | Editor: Janis Kracht | | |___| // || _\ / | janis @ filegate . net | | .--`-. (_|(_|(____/ | janis kracht 1:261/38 | | |____| (jm) | | +--------------------------+------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================= ==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Contents=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= Contents...................................................(i) Editorial:.................................................(1) New Members/In the Works/Returning Members.................(2) The Old School Toolbox: ...................................(3) The Slightly Crusty SysOp .................................(4) FidoGazette BBS List.......................................(5) Dr.Debug Answers Your Questions............................(6) FOOD.......................................................(7) Info (Where to Send Articles)..............................(8) Page i ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= Editorial: ========= (NOTE: Want to submit a guest editorial? Send your contribution in an email to fidogazette @ filegate . net or a netmail to 1:261/38 with 'Guest-Editorial' in the subject line.) Our FTSC election is well on it's way, with candidates offering up replies to queries regarding experience, etc. Well and good. It has been noted, I think importantly, by candidate Sean Dennis that historically, programmers are notoriously _bad_ documenters, and also noted by others (myself) that is why most software companies have a documentation department. This, due to repeated efforts by some (unnamed) to degrade some candidates. Pathetic, really. While it is true that we want people elected to the FTSC who are actually going to DO something, insisting that members of the committee be programmers is not the way to go, IMNSHO. Wonderful if they have some experience in documenting however... since the FTSC committee's major purpose is to document current practice in our network. A reminder of dates, below: Submission of votes: Sunday, Oct 25, 20:00 UTC - Sunday, Nov 8 2009 Contesting of votes: Sunday, Nov 8, 2009, 20:00 UTC Sunday, Nov 15 2009, 20:00 UTC If no contest, installation of new members: Monday Nov 16. 20:00 UTC Only RCs and RECs may vote in this election. Ask your RC to query members of your net so that your vote can be heard! Page 1 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= Want your site's new applications represented here or new nodes in your net shown here? Send the information as below to janis @ filegate.net or to Janis Kracht at 1:261/38 (filegate.net via binkp, no password required). New & Returning Members ============================ By Janis Kracht New Nodes ========= Welcome to Fidonet! Phill Terry Region 11, Columbus, Ohio In the Works: =========== Ray Khechen Region 10, Pismo Beach, CA. Chris Costanzo Region 13, Caldwell, NJ Page 2 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= .======================. |The Old School Toolbox| .======================. Is Your Favorite Echo an Orphan? Part II. By Richard Webb, 1:116/901 You've found an echo of possible interest in the echolist, and checked backbone.na with no joy. This still isn't totally reliable as an indicator of backbone status, or former distribution. Two other files distributed in the backbone file echo may be of help to you. The first of these two, backbone.no lists echomail conferences that although still in distribution have had no coherent activity over the reporting period. AT this point ask your sysop to bring it in for you if not available. YOu might just be the spark of life it needs. As noted in part 1 of this series an echo which remains in backbone.no for awhile is going to find its way to the backbone.dst file. This file indicates echomail conferences which are no longer distributed due to no coherent activity for a few months. THe moderator of such a conference will need to request carriage once again, just as if it were a brand new echomail conference. sometimes life can be restored to these with just a couple of active participants showing an interest. The conference I mentioned in the last column seems to fit this example quite well. Be sure to check all three backbone files if you find an echo of interest to determine its status. If you'd like to help revive an echo that has fallen out of distribution ask the moderator to request carriage via netmail or email. But, if you haven't found a conference on a topic of interest to you there are steps you can take to get one started. YOu can bone your own. There is always room for interesting echomail conferences in FIdonet. Major backbones used to carry lots of different conferences on everything from airplanes to zoology. With the decline in numbers many FIdonet echoes went by the wayside. Your topic of interest might just be the spark of life some bbs system needs. Of course, we lead into this topic in this space last month by discussing orphan echomail conferences or those with absentee moderators. But, it's always better to see a new topic available as an echomail conference. Getting a conference listed, and carried on the backbone is not difficult. This was well covered in a previous issue of FIdogazette, but let's briefly review the process for those who may have missed it. FIrst, decide on an echomail tag for it. This is an alphanumeric string that mail processors will use to define it, i.e. the leftmost column in the backbone files described earlier. NO spaces, use underscore dash or the ubiquitous . as in usenet newsgroup names in lieu of spaces. THen compose a brief description of your conference's theme or topic. Your next step, at least here in North America is to list your conference with the echolist. See the FIdogazette for --- of 2009 for a full description of this process. IF you're not a sysop or point operator you'll want to enlist the assistance of your host sysop, which should include granting you access to netmail if you don't have it already. In fact, if you're a bbs user you'll need the cooperation of a friendly bbs operator to properly manage and maintain your conference. Although not stated in the echolist netmail access is a prerequisite if you wish to be an effective fidonet moderator. When you receive your confirmation message from the echolist via email or netmail (whichever you used to send it) you'll want to save it as a text file, because at that point you're ready to request carriage on the backbone. HEre again in zone 1 (North America) YOu'll want to post a message in the z1_backbone echomail conference providing the text of this echolist confirmation message with a request to add it to the backbone. You'll soon (within a day or so) see a confirmation message from the backbone administrator. See an earlier version of this publication for a more in depth description of this process. It's fairly easy to "bone your own" The hard part is keeping it alive. Part of keeping it alive, and available to those who might wish to participate is posting that rules file you created to the echomail conference periodically. You did create a rules file for this purpose, I hope. Many post their rules once a month, some weekly, and some on other periodic schedules. I seem to prefer monthly. IF you find you're the moderator of a very popular and busy echomail conference you might wish to switch to weekly postings of your rules so that they don't scroll off of participating bbs systems. You'll also wish to renew your conference listing with the echolist every six months, or more frequently. BY default I renew the listing of echomail conferences I moderate every month just to make sure. If you're a bbs user and not a sysop or point operator talk to your host sysop about assistance with this. HE/she might already utilize robot message posters for other purposes, and perhaps you can talk him or her into posting your renewals with the echolist, and your rules in the conference using these tools. If you're a point op or sysop and don't utilize these tools but would find this a useful technique see my earlier columns in this publication for more info on using them, and choosing one which suits you. Some fidonet folks offer automatic echolist update/renewal services for others. Whether you ask one of these friendly people to assist you with this, or enlist your host sysop you'll want to make sure he/she has the password you use with the echolist for that conference. This password will be necessary to both post the update to the database and the updated rules file. THere are disadvantages to this approach however, at least to the rest of us out here in Fidoland. If you become a MIA moderator and leave us with a latchkey kid echo (see above) we might not realize it until it's too late to do anything about it. The automation is a double edged blade here. It makes your life easier, but if you have somebody else doing it for you it can be just chugging along on autopilot because nobody told it to stop updating your echo listing as you'd dropped out of sight. so, if you ask somebody to handle your echolist updates and other periodic posts by proxy make sure you keep in regular contact with that person, and if your circumstances change be nice to the rest of us and turn the echo over to another interested party, like your co-moderator. Posting your rules occasionally does a couple of good things for you as well as the rest of us out here in Fidoland. It lets conference participants know what to expect. It also helps establish a pattern of activity which in the absence of other posts will keep your echo from becoming a backbone audit casualty. Along with your rules occasionally post items of interest which are germane to the echo. Obviously you have some interest in the topic and peruse other sources of information related to it. OTherwise, you wouldn't have wanted to start a conference regarding it. THis also helps concerned and interested folks know that this isn't a "latchkey kid" echomail conference, just hanging around unattended, uncared about and ignored. Use those other sources of information and discussion groups to promote your echo. If your echomail conference is related to a skill or profession drop a note to publications in your field telling them about your conference, providing a few references to systems where it can be accessed using a variety of methods, i.e. telnet, pots, www etc. USe internet listservs in the same manner. Appoint a co-moderator. Even if you don't expect to be away from the echo for more than a day or so the unexpected can, and often does occur. Find somebody else who's interested and conversant with the topic of your echo, and who has reasonably good people skills. Ask this person to be your co-moderator. SOme echo moderators even go so far as to provide the echolist password and other information to their co-mod just in case. If you're not the operator of a point or node system you might wish to obtain the assistance of a point or system operator as your co-mod. They can perform other necessary tasks to keep your conference humming along smoothly with a minimum of hassle. Some of these will be a bit more difficult for you to do if you're not a sysop or point operator. That co-moderator can help keep your echo out of the dreaded latchkey kid category. then, when you can return to Fidonet in the future you might just find a vibrant echo community that you helped build which was maintained by the co-mod you appointed. =#= Page 3 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= ========================== | The Slightly Crusty SysOp| ========================== By Sean Dennis, 1:18/200 Well, October came and went in a hurry so here's November. It's definitely fall; the trees are turning brillant shades of yellow, red, orange and everything in between around here thanks to the cool weather we're having. I've been busy working on hanging up a 135-foot long ham radio antenna in this weather and I couldn't ask for better weather. I could ask for an easier time trying to install the antenna though! This is traditionally the time when Fidonet tends to start getting a little busier since there's less to do outside and people like to keep warm around a toasty monitor instead. I've seen a little more traffic here and there in various echoes but there's not a lot right now (not that there ever is THAT much, but...). There's a lot of interesting echoes that you may or may not know about. A good place to check is the Echolist which is where Zone 1 moderators "register" their echoes to prevent theft (still happens) and to have their echo listed in a monthly listing that is published by the Echolist Keeper, Thom LaCosta. Sometimes the listing is a little out-of-date, but in this day and age, things don't change as fast as they used to so a little outdatedness is okay. Moderators must have other things to do besides keep their echo listings updated it seems. You can also take advantage of offline mail if you've never tried it. It's quite easy to use and you can take your mail with you if you're on the go. My BBS offers both QWK and Blue Wave offline mail formats as do many, many other BBS systems. There is a modern offline mail reader called MultiMail (http://multimail.sourceforge.net) that can handle QWK, Blue Wave and several other mail packet formats. Oh, Multimail is free (it's open source) and available for Win32, DOS, OS/2, Mac OS X, Linux and BSD, so everyone should be covered there. I don't have much else to say except I'd like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas. This is one of my favorite times of year, not just for the food but for the spirit of the holidays. As always, your comments are welcomed and your flames are not. You can contact me via routed netmail (preferred) at 1:18/200. If you don't have email access, just drop me an email at sean@nsbbs.info. In either case, please include "Crusty Sysop" in the message's subject. Now if you'll excuse me, I have Christmas cards I need to start working on. I've not sent them out in the past four years and I'm determined to break that losing streak... =#= Page 4 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= !!! G A Z E T T E B B S L I S T !!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-= By bbslist @ filegate.net Send updates, changes to address above or to janis @ filegate.net. System.......Prism BBS FidoAddress..1:261/38 Phone........607-655-5652 Software.....BBBS LiI v4.01 Flag # OS...........Linux (Gentoo) C/B Verify...None Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas. Telnet.......filegate.net telnet access offers full features of the standard bbs such as doors, qwkmail, BWmail,Files, etc. www:.........http:/www.filegate.net:8090/bbbs [web interface is limited really to reading messages and replying online, or downloading messages in qwk packets, but not uploading them], and file download access. FTP: ftp.filegate.net, port 2121 public access to file areas =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- System.......Time Warp of the Future BBS FidoAddress..1:14/400 Phone........none Software.....sbbs 3.15a (very beta) OS...........win. (xp pro. sp3) C/B Verify...None Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas. Telnet.......time.synchro.net:24 or time.darktech.org:24 or timewarpfuture.dyndns.org:24 telnet access offers full features of the standard bbs such as doors, messages or file area etc. www:.........http://time.synchro.net:81 Web interface is limited really to reading messages and replying online, or downloading messages in qwk packets, but not uploading them, and file download access. SBBS files available. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- System.......Lionsden BBS FidoAddress..1:224/303 Phone........613-392-8896 Software.....Sunchronet OS...........Windows XP C/B Verify...None Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas. Telnet.......lionsden.darktech.org telnet access offers full features of the standard bbs such as doors, qwkmail, Files, etc. www:.........http:/www.lionsden.darktech.org You will redirected to a menu where you can choose one of three sites. The first one is private and requires PW to get into. FTP...........FTP://lionsden.darktech.org Files only =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- System.......Christian Fellowship FidoAddress..1:266/512 Phone........1-856-933-7096 Software.....PCBoard 15.3 OS...........Windows XP pro C/B Verify...Manually via email or voice usually within 24 hours. Access.......Read only until verified. Once verified write access to Msg bases, file areas, chat and doors/games. Telnet.......cfbbs.dtdns.net or cfbbs.no-ip.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- System.......Lightning BBS FidoAddress..1:311/2 Software.....Virtual Advanced OS...........Windows XP C/B Verify...None Access.......First call access to doors, files and message reading. Message posting requires validation. Telnet.......lightningbbs.com www:.........http:/www.lightningbbs.com/index.php Thanks to VADV-PHP you can access almost everything the BBS has to offer from the web, with the exception of door games. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- System.......Roach Guts BBS FidoAddress..1:396/60 Phone:.......337-433-4135 Software.....Maximus on Port 23 (primary) Synchronet on Port 24 (temporary) OS...........Windows XP C/B Verify...None Access.......First call access to doors, files and message reading. Message posting requires validation. Telnet.......roachguts.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =#= Page 5 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= ================================= Dr. DeBug Answers Your Questions! ================================= By dr.debug @ filegate.net To ask a question, send an email to dr.debug @ filegate.net or netmail to 1:261/38. Stupid DOS Tricks ================= Command #1: By typing in tree on the command line, you can view all of the folders (not files) on the computer. Pretty cool but then again pretty worthless. A cool thing to know? Well, I said this was stupid DOS tricks (g) Command #2: By typing in ipconfig you can view your default gateway ip address for your router. Command #3: By typing in "format c:" you can delete all the information on your hard drive, if you want to start new. You don't have to do that btw, if you're switching to Linux.. the Linux install will take care of that. Command #4: By typing in netstat or nbtstat (both similar) you can view the TCP/IP network of your computer. Chat with Friends On Your Network: ================================= This trick will let you chat with the users in a network. Step 1) You need to have your friends IP Address and your Command Prompt. Step 2) Open Notepad and copy and paste the code below: @echo off :A Cls echo INSTANTCHAT set /p n=User: set /p m=Message: net send %n% %m% Pause Goto A Step 3) Now save this as “Instantchat.Bat”. Step 4) Open Command Prompt. Step 5) Drag this newly created bat file over to Command Prompt and press Enter. Step 6) You would then see something like this in the command prompt: INSTANTCHAT User: Step 7) Now, type the IP Address of the computer you want to contact and press enter You will see something like this: INSTANTCHAT User: 127.0.0.1 Message: Type your message and press Enter.. INSTANTCHAT User:127.0.0.1 Message: Hey there! How are you doing? Ctrl+C breaks out of the batch file :) =#= Page 6 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= -=-=-=-=-=- F O O D Even sysops have to eat! -=-=-=-=-=- By Janis Kracht, 1:261/38 Want to contribute something here? Send your submission to fidogazette "at" filegate.net or email janis at filegate.net, or janis kracht at 1:261/38 (binkp: filegate.net) and it will get published here in the next issue :) BASICS: Ketchup, Mustard and Mayonnaise ======================================= It's easy and tastes so much better if you make your own :) Quick Ketchup (or Catsup, if you like (grin) ============= 3 cans Muir Glen Organic Tomato paste 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp+ cloves (I use more) pinch of cayenne pinch allspice pinch garlic powder 3/4 cup organic cider vinegar Water as needed to reach the right consistency. Simmer this, stirring, for about five minutes. Remove from heat. Cool. Adjust seasonings. Flavor will improve on standing if you can wait… If you are in a real hurry you can forgo the simmering…Just mix it and eat it! If you like, you can mix some chipotle granules with it. Mustard ======= You can make zippy, zingy and easy mustards with truly unique flavors at home. It's easy! Our favorite is Dijon. There are three types of mustard seeds generally used for cooking: black, brown and white (sometimes called yellow), which you can find at your local grocery store. Black and brown seeds are often used in hotter, more pungent mustards, while white seeds are usually used in the milder mustards favored in the United States. Mustard powder can be found in the herbs or bulk herbs aisle at your grocery store, or made by finely grinding mustard seeds using a mortar and pestle. Using any type of mustard seed, the flavor is most potent when the prepared mustard is fresh, and becomes less intense over time. And while a basic mustard simply involves soaking tangy mustard powder (or ground mustard seeds) in vinegar, water or other liquid, once you start experimenting with herbs and other flavors, the possibilities are endless. Honey Stout Mustard, from Fabulousfoods.com =============================================== 1 cup yellow mustard seeds 1 cup brown mustard seeds 1 1/2 cups English stout (such as Guinness) 3/4 cup cider vinegar 1 small onion, finely minced 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed 1 tbsp brown sugar 4 tbsp honey 1/3 cup mustard powder 1 tsp allspice 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 tsp salt Soak mustard seeds in stout for at least 4 hours (add more stout if necessary to keep seeds covered). In a heavy saucepan, combine vinegar with the onion, garlic, brown sugar, honey, mustard powder, allspice, turmeric and salt. Simmer, uncovered, over medium heat until reduced by half (about 10 to 15 minutes). Pour reduced liquid through a strainer into mustard-and-stout mixture. Process in food processor or blender until coarsely ground. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened (it will thicken more as it cools). Let cool and pack into sterilized jars and cover tightly. Store, refrigerated, for up to 2 years (although mustards do lose their potency over time). Yields 3 1/2 cups. Dijon Mustard ============= 2 c. dry white wine 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 oz dry mustard 2 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2 tsp. salt few drops Tobasco sauce Combine wine, onion, and garlic in a saucepan: heat to boiling. Lower heat: simmer for 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a bowl: cool. Strain into dry mustard in a saucepan, beating constantly with a wire whip. Blend oil, honey, salt and red pepper sauce into mixture. Heat slowly, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens: cool. Place in a container (not metal): cover. Chill at least 2 days to blend flavors. Variations: After mustard thickens and is removed from heat, add either 1 Tbsp. tomato paste, or 1 tsp. leaf tarragon, or 1 Tbsp. grated orange rind. Blender Mayonnaise ================== This recipe saves your whisking arm. Have all ingredients at room temperature. 1 egg, raw 1 teaspoon mustard powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white sugar 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil 1 cup vegetable oil 1 juice of 1 lemon, or 3 tablespoons white vinegar Place egg in blender jar with mustard power, salt, sugar and cayenne pepper and 1/4 cup olive oil. Blend until mixed. With top of blender on, and blender-top center "plug" removed, turn blender on high speed. When mixed well, add the in lemon juice. Drizzle in very slowly 1 cup of vegetable oil. If you add to much at a time, the mayonnaise will not emulsify. You may have to stir down the mayonnaise as it thickens. You don't have to have a blender to make this, but it's definitely easier on your arm if you do :) You can use a whisk and a stainless steel or glass bowl. Whisk Method: In a glass bowl, whisk together egg and dry ingredients. Add lemon juice then thoroughly whisk into the egg mixture. Start whisking briskly, then start adding the oil a few drops at a time until the liquid seems to thicken and lighten a bit. Once you reach that point you can relax your arm a little (but just a little) and increase the oil flow to a constant (albeit thin) stream. Continue whisking until all of the oil is incorporated. Leave at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours then refrigerate for up to 1 week. =#= Page 7 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 ======================================================================= INFO: Where to Send Your Articles Unlike most editors, I surely do not mind running my mouth when there is a sparcity of articles for the 'zine. I'd MUCH rather you sent in material but I think until someone starts a discussion you feel like commenting about, you evil dullards (just kidding!!!) will no doubt complain about "no issues" (grin) So I will fill these issues with my meanderings and thoughts and hopefully we will grow into something of consequence here :) Don't be offended.. write an article! If you WOULD like to submit an article and prove me wrong about the dullard aspect of you guys and gals (bg), feel free to drop your article off at: By email attach to address: janis @ filegate.net Fidonet attach: Janis Kracht at 1:261/38 Modem: 607-655-5652 1:261/100 filegate.net port 24555 via binkp or telnet mailer (don't send articles as routed attaches, send them direct to filegate.net). Standard binkp port only supports BinkP (24554). Give it a title, sign your name and network address if you have one and send it along! Don't worry about the format, I can take anything you send me and mutilate it further as you can see above. Linux is nice that way (g). Spell checking your own work will help though (something I'm typically guilty of (g). To send a question to Dr. Debug, email a question to dr.debug @ filegate.net or post in the fidogazette echo! :) To send a listing to the fidogazette internet bbs list, send your bbs listing to bbslist @ filegate.net or post it in the fidogazette echo! :) Page 8 ======================================================================= T h e F i d o G a z e t t e! Volume III number IX November 2009 =======================================================================