1472 lines
73 KiB
Plaintext
1472 lines
73 KiB
Plaintext
BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News
|
|
COPYRIGHT 1991 ISSN 1055-4548
|
|
|
|
July 1991 Volume 4, Issue 7
|
|
|
|
Table Of Contents
|
|
-----------------
|
|
Article Title Author
|
|
|
|
Policy Statement and Disclaimer................Staff
|
|
Publisher's Corner.............................Mark Maisel
|
|
Editorial: My Reflections of Alabamy..........Raymond Hugh
|
|
Sid Meets Comdex...............................Sid Browning
|
|
Reflections On A BTN Party.....................Eric Hunt
|
|
My First BTN Party.............................Erica Sullivan
|
|
Yet Another BTN Party Questionnaire............Colby Gibson
|
|
The Adventures of R.G. Strangemind & Herbert...Jeremy Lewis
|
|
Windows Review: BackMenu 2.2..................Eric Hunt
|
|
Notes From The Trenches........................Dean Costello
|
|
If Cavemen had Clubs, Why Don't We?............Bryan Taylor
|
|
ProFile: Pete Mohney...........................Chris Mohney
|
|
Special Interest Groups (SIGs).................Barry Bowden
|
|
Known BBS Numbers..............................Staff
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer and Statement of Policy for BTN
|
|
|
|
We at BTN try our best to assure the accuracy of articles and
|
|
information in our publication. We assume no responsibility for damage
|
|
due to errors, omissions, etc. The liability, if any for BTN, its
|
|
editors and writers, for damages relating to any errors or omissions,
|
|
etc., shall be limited to the cost of a one year subscription to BTN,
|
|
even if BTN, its editors or writers have been advised of the likelihood
|
|
of such damages occurring.
|
|
|
|
With the conclusion of that nasty business, we can get on with our
|
|
policy for publication and reproduction of BTN articles. We publish
|
|
monthly with a deadline of the fifteenth of the month prior to
|
|
publication. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so at any
|
|
time but bear in mind the deadline if you wish for your work to appear
|
|
in a particular issue. It is not our purpose to slander or otherwise
|
|
harm a person or reputation and we accept no responsibility for the
|
|
content of the articles prepared by our writers. Our writers own their
|
|
work and it is protected by copyright. We allow reprinting of articles
|
|
from BTN with only a few restrictions. The author may object to a
|
|
reprint, in which case he will specify in the content of his article.
|
|
Otherwise, please feel free to reproduce any article from BTN as long as
|
|
the source, BTN, is specified, and as long as the author's name and the
|
|
article's original title are retained. If you use one of our articles,
|
|
please forward a copy of your publication to:
|
|
|
|
Mark Maisel
|
|
Editor, BTN
|
|
221 Chestnut St.
|
|
BHM, AL 35210-3219
|
|
(205)-956-0176
|
|
|
|
We thank you for taking the time to read our offering and we hope that
|
|
you like it. We also reserve the right to have a good time while doing
|
|
all of this and not get too serious about it.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
F R E E B I E : G E T I T W H I L E I T S H O T !
|
|
|
|
The following boards allow BTN to be downloaded freely, that is with no
|
|
charge to any existing upload/download ratios.
|
|
|
|
The Connection LZ Birmingham Alter-Ego
|
|
Channel 8250 Little Kingdom Joker's Castle
|
|
Crunchy Frog Myth Drannor Posys BBS
|
|
The Matrix Abject Poverty The Bus
|
|
The Outer Limits Bloom County The Round Table
|
|
DC Info Exchange Radio Free Troad Programmers Shack
|
|
Amiga Alliance ][ DataLynx Martyrdom Again?!
|
|
|
|
If you are a sysop and you allow BTN to be downloaded freely, please let
|
|
me know via EZNet so that I can post your board as a free BTN
|
|
distributor. Thanks. MM
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
N E W S F L A S H
|
|
|
|
Crunchy Frog recently added a second node to
|
|
accomodate the many weirdos who call it. As if that
|
|
wasn't enough for Monty, the insane sysop, she
|
|
purchased a second US Robotics Dual Standard modem
|
|
for the line. She asked me to let you all know here
|
|
so please let her know I've complied. The number
|
|
for the second node is 956-0073.
|
|
|
|
There will be something going on the weekend of July
|
|
20th-21st. I am not certain as to what as yet but it
|
|
will be announced in EZNet if it comes to pass as a
|
|
public event.
|
|
|
|
There is a new service offer on The MATRIX these days.
|
|
If you have any photos or have need of video scanning
|
|
services, then you need look no further than The MATRIX
|
|
Scanner. Details may be found in Conference 60 on The
|
|
MATRIX.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Publisher's Corner
|
|
by Mark Maisel
|
|
|
|
The June party seemed a complete success. Many new folks and lots
|
|
of old friends gathered 'round and had a grand time. Many thanks to
|
|
Rocky for furnishing his house as the party site. City Stages was only
|
|
a few blocks away and many shuttled back and forth between the party and
|
|
the concerts. Unless some unforseen setback occurs, I will schedule the
|
|
next party for sometime in August prior to the return of the kiddies to
|
|
school.
|
|
|
|
This issue has come together quite nicely. Chris was finally
|
|
nailed down to produce a ProFile. Pat him on the head when next you see
|
|
him. I remember a time when I had to really press to get post-party
|
|
articles. You will see that this was definitely not the case, this time
|
|
around. Maybe I should wait six months between parties more often. We
|
|
have a supply of articles this time on the matter. We have a first
|
|
timer's view of the Spring Comdex that you'll certainly find amusing,
|
|
especially if you are or have been an attendee yourself. RayHugh, a New
|
|
Yawk ByteBrother who seems to have taken a liking to Crunchy Frog, and
|
|
Dixieland in general, has provided us with a brief accounting of his
|
|
love for our part of the world. I talked Raymond into coming down to
|
|
Comdex which he did. He liked the South so much that he is coming back
|
|
for more in the middle of July. If you have any special comments you'd
|
|
like to share with him, in regards to his article, let me know. The
|
|
line forms to the left. Bryan Taylor presents a rather novel idea that
|
|
I think you should consider, so look at what he has to say, and leave
|
|
him a message about it in EZNet. Jeremy Lewis is still at it in his
|
|
delightful serial. It has more plot twists than anything I've ever
|
|
seen. I haven't the slightest idea how it is going to go from month to
|
|
month. It is very curious and worthy of your attention. I've got my
|
|
team of reviewers hard at it. Eric "Windows Are Wonderful" Hunt is full
|
|
of excitement because of all the software becoming available for
|
|
Windows. If you have an interest, he is definitely a good source of
|
|
information. Dean is still with us, in text. I think this month is
|
|
probably the best piece of work from him that I've ever seen. He has
|
|
managed to emulate his idol without aping him. Good stuff!
|
|
|
|
I really don't have much to say after all of that. I hope you
|
|
enjoy the issue and that you'll feel compelled to write some articles of
|
|
your own once you finish reading it. You people out there are what make
|
|
BTN. I only collect and marginally edit the stuff. I have had some
|
|
committments, some from afar, Sandy, and I am hoping to share new names
|
|
and ideas with you all very soon.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Editorial
|
|
|
|
My Impressions of Alabamy
|
|
by Raymond Hugh
|
|
|
|
I was down in Atlanta with the Maisels at the end of May for
|
|
Comdex. For those of you who don't know, I'm from New York, so when the
|
|
Maisels invited me to visit, I figured, what the hell, I might as well
|
|
see what Birmingham has to offer.
|
|
|
|
Lemme tell you what I think of the experience: it was b
|
|
o
|
|
r
|
|
i
|
|
n
|
|
g
|
|
!
|
|
|
|
I knew I was in trouble when we hit the state line, and I started
|
|
getting drowsy. There was something in the air that just would not let
|
|
me stay awake. Maybe it had something to do with the endless road and
|
|
the trees at the side of it. So, for the next hour and a half, all I
|
|
saw was the back of my eyelids, green trees, overcast sky, the back of
|
|
my eyelids, and nothing on the horizon. Oh, did I mention I saw the
|
|
back of my eyelids?
|
|
|
|
"Did you say something, Mark? Yeah, 'bama's a great
|
|
pla...zzzzzz..."
|
|
|
|
The only redeeming feature were the people I met while I was there.
|
|
They were a motley crew, to say the least:
|
|
|
|
Sarah, the endless flirt, who is definitely her
|
|
mother's daughter
|
|
Dirty Vicar, the wimp of a sub-sysop who catered
|
|
to the whining during the Maisels' absence
|
|
The Unknown Kamakazi Driver (sorry, I can't bring
|
|
myself to give out this person's name, even
|
|
though this person is not the Frog; you guys
|
|
will have to fend for yourself) Hey, bub, I
|
|
hope you get your license soon; I've got mine!
|
|
The One-Eyed Cat and its evil twin
|
|
And, of course, the Whippets
|
|
|
|
OK, so the last two were not people. I had to throw them in since
|
|
they added to the 'experience' of Alabamy. Oh, I almost forgot the
|
|
other redeeming feature to Birmingham: I did not see any streets named
|
|
Peachtree or Dunwoody! Thank heavens for small favors..
|
|
|
|
I tried my darnedest to become Mark's Bestest Buddy, but I knew I
|
|
wouldn't be able to do it, since I don't live in the area. However, I
|
|
gave it my best shot. I'm not sure how much I succeeded, though. I did
|
|
come away with some software, though, which saves me the trouble of
|
|
downloading the files. He even gave me a preview of the next victims of
|
|
Blackmails 'R Us.
|
|
|
|
I also succeeded in convincing Mark to come up to New York for a
|
|
baby computer show. At least he was planning to come, until Kathy's car
|
|
overheated in sympathy with her feelings about Bundy's doings in the
|
|
Main Base. Sorry, Dean, I tried, but I doubt I'll be kicking you off
|
|
the top of the Mark's Bestest Buddy mountain any time soon, and I don't
|
|
think I'll be going to too many BTN parties.
|
|
|
|
So what did I think of my trip to Alabamy? It's a New York wannabe
|
|
town, with its very own replica of the Statue of Liberty. The drivers
|
|
are damned impatient Southerners. I got first-hand experience with that
|
|
when Mark was chaffeuring me around during Comdex. And they say New
|
|
Yorkers are always in a hurry! Yeah, I think I'll have to come back
|
|
down sometime to straighten you guys out. But change the air first,
|
|
will ya?
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Sid Meets Comdex
|
|
by Sid Browning
|
|
|
|
As the meeting wrapped up, my boss casually mentioned that he would
|
|
not be see me the following morning because he was going to Comdex. One
|
|
of our suppliers had given him some tickets and he needed to talk with
|
|
several people who would be there.
|
|
|
|
"Wow! Comdex? Really? That will be great! Put me on some mailing
|
|
lists while you're there."
|
|
|
|
He kind of studied me for a moment and said, "Would you like to go
|
|
with me? I have an extra ticket."
|
|
|
|
Pretending to be calm, I made a few remarks about the next day's
|
|
busy agenda. An agenda we had just finished discussing and planning a
|
|
few minutes earlier. "If you don't mind putting a one-day delay in the
|
|
schedule, I could come along for the ride."
|
|
|
|
So there I was in Atlanta on Thursday, the final day of Comdex. I
|
|
had always read about the Comdex show, but never managed to attend one.
|
|
It seemed as if the registration process was going to take forever.
|
|
Actually it only took about 20 minutes, but that was 20 minutes that I
|
|
could have put to better use by looking at the exhibits. At
|
|
registration I was given one of those plastic cards, similar to a credit
|
|
card, with my name and other information in raised letters. It seemed
|
|
like a lot of trouble for name tags, but much better than the old
|
|
standard, "Hello, my name is...."
|
|
|
|
Following the crowd into the exhibition hall we prepared to be
|
|
impressed with the size of the show, the incredible number of companies
|
|
represented, how it would compare to a high-tech Mexican tourist market
|
|
with vendors hawking their wares to cynical tourists. But we were
|
|
quickly disappointed. It looked as if the whole show was only slightly
|
|
bigger than the Birmingham Home show. Sure it was kind of large, but
|
|
was this the Comdex I had read about? Oh well, at least it would be
|
|
easy to see in the one day we had left. (Yeah, Right.)
|
|
|
|
Getting through the doors was a hassle because idiots in the crowd
|
|
all had to stop just inside the doorway to discuss something,
|
|
effectively blocking entrance to those behind. Glaring at the idiots,
|
|
and walking between them to show that they were blocking our way, we
|
|
made it through the doorways. And then we immediately stopped to
|
|
discuss the best strategy to seeing the show. People glared at us and
|
|
walked between us.
|
|
|
|
I don't remember the name of the first company we talked to, but
|
|
the girl explained what they did in great detail. I wasn't really
|
|
listening; I was more interested in getting her yo-yos. It seemed quite
|
|
important at the time to have one of those free yo- yos, but I have no
|
|
idea where the thing is now. It was a yo-yo made from recycled plastic
|
|
with the company's name on the side. I'm alway's a sucker for free
|
|
knick-knacks.
|
|
|
|
After that, we decided to only go for the free knick-knacks if we
|
|
could get them sans the free, long product explanation. Some of the
|
|
exhibitors reminded me of those boring museum information systems where
|
|
you walk up to an exhibit, push a button, and listen to a recorded
|
|
explanation. Seriously, some of these people would not bother to ask if
|
|
you had any interest in or use for there product whatsoever. They would
|
|
just launch into a detailed explanation/sales pitch.
|
|
|
|
We also discovered why we were given the plastic name card with
|
|
raised letters. To be placed on a mailing list, you simply had to hand
|
|
over your card and have it run through a credit card imprinter. What a
|
|
great idea! It also made for a few jokes.
|
|
|
|
"How do you want to pay for this?"
|
|
|
|
"Here, put it on my Comdex Charge."
|
|
|
|
The exhibitors never seemed as amused with that joke as I was. Oh
|
|
well.
|
|
|
|
I used the card to get on as many mailing lists as possible, and
|
|
have received a lot of mail since the show as a result. Wall Data even
|
|
sent me a demo copy of Rumba 400, which is a PC to Host connection for
|
|
Windows. If I liked Windows, it would probably not be a bad way to
|
|
connect to an IBM 3270. I also got a peek at the new 20Mb floppy
|
|
drives. Once the price drops, those drives will be a great way for
|
|
selectively backing up a hard drive.
|
|
|
|
Some products seemed great. I was highly impressed with some of
|
|
the graphic workstations. Others, such as the EAZY Black Box Company,
|
|
had products to sell which were worth a quick look and examination at
|
|
their booth, but I wouldn't spend real money on them. This firm had a
|
|
text to speech device which could read marked blocks of text in an ASCII
|
|
file. If you knew what it was reading already, you could almost
|
|
understand the computer speech. Fun for a few minutes, but not long.
|
|
|
|
The "most interesting T-Shirt" award would have to go to Berkeley
|
|
systems. Unfortunately, the would only give them away for free if you
|
|
gave them $11. The front of the shirts had toasters with wings flying
|
|
past and the logo said, "51st flying toaster squadron." It was a
|
|
graphic from one of their software products called "After Dark," a
|
|
screen blanker designed to work with Windows.
|
|
|
|
"Most useless product" award goes to GMT Automation. This firm
|
|
makes plastic reference charts for popular software programs such as
|
|
WordPerfect, Lotus and Dbase. The problem is that the charts would only
|
|
help a user who is completely unfamiliar with the software. Its only
|
|
help is in pointing out what the menus already show, without any
|
|
explanation. The chart for WordPerfect, for example, has a block marked
|
|
"help." The instructions therein tell the user to press "F3." I don't
|
|
use that program and so I didn't know that was how you found help, but
|
|
if I were to use WordPerfect I would know where to find help without
|
|
consulting any charts or manuals. The company did give us some free
|
|
samples of their charts though.
|
|
|
|
Nearing lunch time, we had a problem. We had seen pretty much all
|
|
of the booths, but we couldn't find Covox or WordPerfect. Covox is one
|
|
of our suppliers and we needed to get some technical information on
|
|
their new voice boards. WordPerfect was giving away some neat hats and I
|
|
wanted one. We finally asked somone if they had seen Covox anywhere.
|
|
He pulled out a very handy reference book, which we didn't have, and
|
|
said they were in booth 1901. This was the first we had seen or heard
|
|
of this Comdex reference book. Why didn't we have one too? We asked at
|
|
an information booth for a book and they told us that we should have
|
|
been given one at registration. We asked at the registration area and
|
|
were told that no more books were available. More people were in
|
|
attendance than the organizers expected so not enough books were
|
|
printed.
|
|
|
|
At least we had found the location of Covox, so we went searching
|
|
for booth 1901. It was pretty easy to locate booths because the aisles
|
|
were numbered and each booth had its number on the floor in front.
|
|
Unfortunately, it appeared that the aisles weren't numbered below 2400.
|
|
Aisle 1900 didn't exist. That was when we discovered the rest of
|
|
Comdex. We had only found one exhibition hall.
|
|
|
|
By locating the other exhibition hall, the size of Comdex
|
|
effectively doubled for us, and became impossible to see in one day.
|
|
|
|
One of the most interesting products I saw was from Covox, once we
|
|
found them. Voicemaster Key is a board which retails for $150, and
|
|
allows the user to set up a voice menu of commands. The demonstration
|
|
consisted of a user saying "computer." The computer would respond in a
|
|
voice similar to the Dominoe's Pizza Noid. The demonstrator would then
|
|
say, "show more respect." And the computer would reply, in Spock's
|
|
voice, "Yes captain." The user could ask the computer to bring up
|
|
Lotus, and Lotus would appear. My boss kept making remarks about its
|
|
limitations and misinterpretations. Then I noticed that the microphone
|
|
headset looked exactly like one that I have. "Do we get those headsets
|
|
from Covox?" I asked him.
|
|
|
|
He looked at me like I was a fool and said, "Yeah. One comes with
|
|
each Voicemaster Key. Watch what he's typing and you'll recognize some
|
|
of the commands."
|
|
|
|
How was I to know that one of those things was buried inside our
|
|
systems? We don't use it for the purpose for which its designed, so I
|
|
assumed it was a different product.
|
|
|
|
We eventually managed to get hats from WordPerfect also. They would
|
|
only give away hats to people who sat through a seminar, which isn't how
|
|
we wanted to spend our time. After the show closed, they did have a few
|
|
extras and were willing to part with them.
|
|
|
|
How can Comdex be done better? I would suggest spending more than
|
|
one day. Without attending the first conference, the show could easily
|
|
take two days of your time. Also, find a show book upon arrival. It
|
|
helps to know where you are in relation to everything. We did find that
|
|
same information in the Comdex newspaper, of which we had copies. But
|
|
that was one of those things that we stuffed into a bag to examine
|
|
later. Parking costs $1 more on the street than valet parking next
|
|
door, not counting the valet's tip. The valets seem to get stressed if
|
|
you ask them to bring your car around, then you throw a bunch of
|
|
brochures and stuff into the car and tell them to put it away again.
|
|
|
|
So who wants to go next year?
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Reflections on a BTN party
|
|
by Eric Hunt
|
|
|
|
School's out, summer's here, what a better time to have a BTN
|
|
party? The inaugural party of summer 1991 was a definite hit with all
|
|
who attended. Trouble is, I didn't know HALF of the people that DID
|
|
attend. Man, give people some advance notice, and they start coming out
|
|
of the woodwork. Rocky's house on Southside was a virtual beehive of
|
|
conversation and good fun until a rumored 5:30a.m. City Stages only
|
|
added to the atmosphere, what with people coming and going to the event
|
|
all during the night.
|
|
|
|
Attendees were too numerous to count, but Colby Gibson had 50
|
|
questionaires, and ran out of them, so take that as an indication. Most
|
|
noteable of noteables was the en-masse arrival of the Sullivans:
|
|
Wessley, Patsy, Erica, and Shane. They all came a-walkin' down the
|
|
street as a nice family unit. (alas, NOT singing
|
|
doo-wa-ditty-ditty-dum-ditty-do) The Sullivan's were in and out during
|
|
the night, attending City Stages as well. Another noteable, yet not
|
|
noteable was the perennial attendance of Kevin Buchan, from Atlanta.
|
|
Kevin converses regularly with many Birminghamians in the Metronet
|
|
NetChat conference over on Channel 8250. Some other new faces, including
|
|
the Deermans, and some guy who's only been here a week from Mobile. An
|
|
interesting crowd.
|
|
|
|
Events taking place varied from the hum drum to the insanely
|
|
bizzare. The Matrix room was a virtual beehive of activity all night.
|
|
Fortunately, it kept most of the pre-pubescent munchkins happily
|
|
occupied most of the time. There were three other computers in the room,
|
|
besides the 7 computers that comprise The Matrix, and all three were
|
|
being used as game machines. Ricky Eanes was gang-chatted with, and Tom
|
|
even got to lock a user out or two. (Really!) On the more unusual front,
|
|
Richard Foshee was spotted embracing Maggie, although the motive has yet
|
|
to be determined. On the REALLY unusual front was the drink of the
|
|
evening! What some likened to Windex, others called the Tidybowl Man mix
|
|
from hell. (I personally thought it was another communist plot from the
|
|
Smurfs, but, hey, I don't drink). Whatever it was called, it was sure
|
|
strange. Rumour had it that it would clean any sinuses PERMANENTLY if
|
|
inhaled too deeply. Still, there were quite a few imbibing this noxious
|
|
looking blue substance. To each his own, I suppose. Another event that
|
|
bears mention was the opressing heat during the start of the party. Poor
|
|
Rocky's house wasn't used to having that many people in it, and before
|
|
the night cooled things off, it was DAMN hot for a while. The porch was
|
|
a seat of activity during this time, as it was the only place where one
|
|
could escape the heat. And speaking of the porch, it was touch and go
|
|
with the railing on one side, and I wasn't too sure of the entire
|
|
shebang, even though Rocky kept assuring us that it was very stable. The
|
|
sheer # of people resting upon the porch and it's associated railings
|
|
had me worried.
|
|
|
|
Omega was disappointed. Someone stole Rocky's CD player, so many of
|
|
the dance tunes that Mark brought were unplayable. Still, 90's style
|
|
disco COULD be heard, and I even witnessed Mark dance for us. On another
|
|
front, Maggie was her usual charming self, and she had Lurch on her
|
|
coattails most of the night to prove it. Lurch was a definite hit with
|
|
many of the ladies that night, if only for his sense of mystery. He's
|
|
doing SOMETHING right. Jet Thomas also graced us with his presence, and
|
|
not soon after seeing Jet, I spotted the bagful of sickly sweet Brach's
|
|
candies. Unfortunately, I have *yet* to see Jet bouncing off the
|
|
ceilings, as has been alleged several times. The Pasty Slug did the
|
|
Maisels a favor and kidnapped Sarah off to City Stages for a greater
|
|
part of the evening. And Tyros was very fashionable, sporting a full
|
|
three-year collection of the City Stages buttons. He was quite a hit at
|
|
the actual event, from what I hear. And finally, there was a poor
|
|
insurance salesman (sorry, I've already lost your card) that really
|
|
needed DOS classes bad. I hope Kathy and I got you started on SOME kind
|
|
of foot, you did have me worried there for a while (I almost think he's
|
|
one of those people who stick everything in the root, although I'm not
|
|
entirely sure)
|
|
|
|
Sysops, Sysops, Sysops everywhere! There were quite a few in
|
|
attendance, which always makes for an interesting get together. Let's
|
|
see. Randy Hilliard, Monty (Kathy Maisel), Rocky (the gracious host for
|
|
the evening), Tom Egan (The evening's evil Nazi), Maggie and Lee, Ricky
|
|
Morgan and his sidekick Joe Kearley, Kelly Rosato, Mark Kieskowski
|
|
(sorry, Mark), Richard Foshee, and several others whose names I cannot
|
|
remember right now. It was a good thing if you were nice and sweet to
|
|
these people, they have wonderful memories of nights like this and
|
|
brown-nosing users like yourselves. It is nice, though, to be able to
|
|
pick on your favorite sysop (Right, Maggie? [wink]) Most of the
|
|
abovementioned people had significant others in tow, which tends to
|
|
REALLY liven things up.
|
|
|
|
Well, as for my report on this party, it seems over. I apologize to
|
|
all of you out-of-towners who might be reading this (In Scotland,
|
|
perhaps?) and not have the faintest idea in hell what I'm babbling
|
|
about. It's one of those "You should've been there" things. [Hint, hint,
|
|
Shafer and Rayhue]
|
|
|
|
All I can say is, until the madness begins again!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
My First BTN Party
|
|
by Erica Sullivan
|
|
|
|
Well, to begin with we got lost several times. Then, we had to
|
|
talk Patsy into going to the party. She was refusing to go to the
|
|
party. After several minutes of "discussion", she decided to go to the
|
|
party. Actually, the only reason she decided to go to the party was her
|
|
wonderful ability to get lost. If she would have dropped us off, we
|
|
would still be sitting on Rocky's step waiting for her.
|
|
|
|
After we found the right house and persuaded mom to get out of the
|
|
car, we had the difficult job of walking up to the house. Espically
|
|
since we still were not real sure if this ws the right house. So, we
|
|
walked up the stairs. Wessley introduced himself and us and asked if it
|
|
was the BTN party. It was(Look of relief on my face). Several people
|
|
introduced themselves. Immediately Colby Gibson stood up and introduced
|
|
himself. (Now that I have met Colby, I don't understand why people give
|
|
him a hard time. He's really very helpful and friendly). By this time
|
|
lots of people had started arriving and I had gotten over being shy and
|
|
scared and I started being my normal self. It was kinda weird, but lots
|
|
of fun. Even though people tell you not to, you still try to figure out
|
|
what this person or that person is going to be like once you meet them
|
|
face to face.
|
|
|
|
At first I was pretty nervous, but after a few minutes
|
|
everything was running smooth, until we had to leave. By that time,
|
|
Patsy actually wanted to stay. Remember this was the same person who
|
|
didn't want to come in the first place. I guess she had so much fun
|
|
almost making Henry Barfoot fall of the porch. Henry, you really
|
|
need to watch out for those porches more often. We had to leave, but
|
|
we came back a little while later. I was driving, but for some
|
|
unknown reason, I listened to Patsy who managed to get us lost. BUt
|
|
we did manage to make it back the second time.
|
|
|
|
As I said before there were some interesting people there and then
|
|
there were some really weird people there. I got to meet a lot of the
|
|
people that I leave messages to. I finally got to meet Monk. I got to
|
|
meet EZNET's very own goddesses. Even though, Maggie said that we look
|
|
alike, we forgave her<G>. Patsy started to act weird. She would be
|
|
talking to people and then just up and walk off. It wasn't anything
|
|
personal, she just started feeling bad. Rocky showed us The Matrix and
|
|
we got to see how it works. I got to meet Bentley, who wrote Esterian
|
|
Conquest. And I even got to meet people I had never even heard of
|
|
before. It was fun and definetly an interesting experience. Thanks
|
|
Mark and Rocky for making it possible.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Yet Another BTN Party Questionnaire
|
|
by Colby Gibson
|
|
|
|
Another BTN party has come and gone. Saturday night, June
|
|
15, these questionnaires were going around the Rawlins house,
|
|
being filled out, eaten, and used for coasters. I amassed 28
|
|
replies and here are the results. I'll post the best 5-6 replies,
|
|
plus some criticism, comments, etc.
|
|
|
|
(Of course, not saying that there weren't some turned in
|
|
that I couldn't read. You people were DRUNK.)
|
|
|
|
1) Write in your name(s) below.
|
|
|
|
A) Mark Kieskowski (* A truthful one! Alright! *)
|
|
B) Your name(s) below. (* Smart ass *)
|
|
C) God, no. Then I could be implicated. (* Sure you would. We know. *)
|
|
D) Kevin Buchan (Can you read this? I'm on beer #5)
|
|
E) No. (* Hey, thanks! *)
|
|
|
|
2) How did you get here and what type of transport was involved?
|
|
|
|
A) My Wheelchair (* So THAT's what that thing in the hall was! *)
|
|
B) An Ambulance (8 Well, I thought that was for carrying people
|
|
OUT, not in... *)
|
|
C) I flew, and boy are my arms tired! (* That's who brought the blue
|
|
stuff! No wonder.... *)
|
|
D) Your parents didn't explain that to you? (* A technical type, huh!? *)
|
|
|
|
E) Various bits and pieces of me have been arriving over a period
|
|
of several weeks. (* Obviously you're not whole, because there
|
|
was SOMETHING on the kitchen table that
|
|
defied description! *)
|
|
F) I Teleported. (* We HAD to have one of those. *)
|
|
|
|
3) Why did you decide to get off your butt and come?
|
|
|
|
A) Well, the batteries in my vibrator ran out, so I said
|
|
what the hell! (* And we know what you did to Foshee, too. *)
|
|
B) My butt doesn't get off, but other various parts of my anatomy
|
|
do. (* You people are just plain WEIRD. That's all I have to say. *)
|
|
C) I live here. (* Michael Rawlins, no doubt. *)
|
|
D) The remote control was too far out of reach.
|
|
(* Really? Are you sure Foshee didn't have it? <snicker> *)
|
|
E) Good reason to get drunk. (* HEY! THEY TOLD THE TRUTH! *)
|
|
F) Me smell party. (* The only thing at Rocky's house that smelled
|
|
really bad was the excess of those tacos that
|
|
someone was stupid enough to leave lying there.
|
|
I wasted no time with them..... *)
|
|
|
|
4) What alcoholic items did you bring, if any? If not, ingested any?
|
|
|
|
A) Canadian Mist. (* We know who THIS is... *)
|
|
B) Rubbing alcohol and the fluid in my wipers that is part
|
|
methanol. (* Don't you know that methanol is bad for you? *)
|
|
C) Long Island Tea. I drank blue shit. (* I was never able to
|
|
sample that blue stuff
|
|
that was in the tea
|
|
jar. Anyone know what
|
|
it was? *)
|
|
D) 2 qts rubbing alcohol. (* Hmmm, THAT'S what the bad smell was.. *)
|
|
E) 3 bottles of lighter fluid. (* I'm just glad nobody got their
|
|
lighter near that stuff... *)
|
|
F) None. Presently getting off on homemade brew. (* How many of you
|
|
people make this
|
|
stuff, anyway? *)
|
|
G) Blue. (* At least I know now made that blue liquid. *)
|
|
|
|
5) In your opinion, how many ounces of alcohol will Mark Keiskowski
|
|
gulp down this evening? Will he start to dance?
|
|
|
|
A) I don't think he's here yet. Maybe he'll dance if
|
|
Dean Costello shows up. (* Dean didn't show up, as
|
|
far as I know, and he didn't
|
|
dance that I saw. *)
|
|
B) Omega is an endless pit. I cannot imagine what he
|
|
will ingest. (* I ain't gonna comment. *)
|
|
C) He doesn't gulp-he slurps. (* Mark??? *)
|
|
D) 47 x 10^73 (* That's a LOT of vodka! *)
|
|
E) Who? (* I KNEW that there would be one.... *)
|
|
F) As much as I want and probably not. You spelled it wrong,
|
|
Asshole! "Kieskowski"! (* I'm glad that Mark cared to turn
|
|
in one. *)
|
|
|
|
6) Is Ricky Eanes Here?, If so, Has he said anything to you?
|
|
Has anyone moved to break his fingers?
|
|
|
|
A) I'll break his fingers if he comes. (* Ouch! *)
|
|
B) I haven't seen him but there is a foul smell in the air
|
|
and the sheep are nervous. (* Ricky!?!? *)
|
|
C) Who? (* Surprising, I thought EVERYONE had heard of Ricky Eanes. *)
|
|
D) Yeah, he was just here. I had him in my pocket a second
|
|
ago.... Where did he go? (* Ricky? A prisoner? Appealing... *)
|
|
E) Who gives a damn about Ricky any more? (* I dunno, I just wrote
|
|
the question.... *)
|
|
F) Ricky is busy handing out questionnaires with bandaged fingers.
|
|
(* Kieskowski must have gotten to him. Eric, you didn't hold him? *)
|
|
|
|
By the way, Ricky, we successfully faxed Eric Hunt
|
|
to the Phil's Food Mart in Irondale that night.
|
|
|
|
7) Were you frisked at the door?
|
|
|
|
A) Once by force, the rest felt good.
|
|
(* I wonder who did the frisking.. *)
|
|
B) Yeah, it was okay but the lines are so damned long that
|
|
it probably won't wind through again.
|
|
C) Yes. Got a cigarette? (* Sorry, I don't smoke... *)
|
|
D) Yes, I cherish the memory! Richard! Oh, yes!!
|
|
E) No, but Richard felt me up. (* Richard is big news lately! *)
|
|
F) Thank God Foshee was somewhere else.
|
|
|
|
8) Has Tom Egan caught you with "The Camera"? If so, how much will
|
|
you be willing to pay for us to not scan the picture?
|
|
|
|
A) Not with the camera, but with his wife.... (* Tom?... *)
|
|
B) He didn't have a camera, but he offered me a moustache
|
|
ride instead. (* Sounds like some of you had a fun night. *)
|
|
C) The question is: How much will I pay to GET scanned?
|
|
D) No. Scan me at your own risk.
|
|
E) So far, Tom has only caught me with one button undone. Wait
|
|
'til a few drinks and a few buttons into the evening.
|
|
|
|
9) How many people are in the MATRIX room?
|
|
|
|
A) More than the fire marshall would like... (* Hang on while I
|
|
go call 'em! *)
|
|
B) How many people can wear your underwear? (* It depends. How many
|
|
people would LIKE to
|
|
wear my underwear? *)
|
|
C) 100,000 or so. (* I dunno if the floor was THAT structurally
|
|
sound. *) ~~~~
|
|
D) None. Amazing! (* Also impossible, if you ask me. *)
|
|
E) 17 1/2 (* I KNEW I shouldn't have left that knife in there! *)
|
|
|
|
10) How many beers has Maisel had?
|
|
|
|
A) He has only nursed one beer that I've seen. And two
|
|
small kittens. (* Meow! *)
|
|
B) Don't know. He puked in my can. (* Didn't think that Maisel
|
|
could drink THAT much. *)
|
|
C) 47 x 10^73 (* That's a lotta Bud, dude! *)
|
|
D) They had to drive to Atlanta to get more. He drank all
|
|
of the beer in Birmingham.
|
|
E) Enough so that Kathy can have her way with him and he'll
|
|
never know. (* Mark? Kathy?? *)
|
|
|
|
11) Why the hell are you answering this thing, anyway?
|
|
|
|
A) None of your damn business. (* Hey, thanks! *)
|
|
B) Because it was rudely shoved in my face all evening.
|
|
C) Colby is holding a gun to my head. (* Loaded 9mm, too. *)
|
|
D) I was asked nicely. (* Direct contrast to "B" *)
|
|
|
|
E) Because I wouldn't want to upset Gibson. (* You wouldn't, trust me! *)
|
|
|
|
F) Me Bobo, me stupid. (* To answer this thing, you had to be at
|
|
least a BIT stupid. *)
|
|
|
|
12) If you could spend a fortnight upon the person of any woman/man
|
|
in existance, who would it be?
|
|
|
|
A) Hey man! Only lady liberty would be big enough and
|
|
it wouldn't be safe sex.
|
|
B) Erica Sullivan. (* Erica?? *)
|
|
C) Richard Foshee! Whatta Stud! NOT!
|
|
D) Maggie Harden, Chris Hilliard, Gail Bagen, Astrid Morgan.
|
|
(* No comment *)
|
|
E) I'm hot for the Maytag Man. (* That old guy? NO WAY! *)
|
|
F) Kitty Kat. (* Rocky, lock up the cat! *)
|
|
|
|
13) Go up to Richard Foshee and stick your tongue in his ear. What
|
|
was his response?
|
|
|
|
A) "What? YOU AGAIN?" (* Are you implying something? *)
|
|
B) I did, and I can no longer crap right any more.
|
|
C) Not on your life! Besides, he doesn't want any women
|
|
to do that, anyway. (* What came of that railroad tie
|
|
nail? *)
|
|
D) He grabbed me on the left buttock. (* Not gonna say it. *)
|
|
E) You're cracked, Colby. (* You know it! *)
|
|
F) "Meet me in the backyard in 5 min." (* So THAT's why the
|
|
grass grows that way *)
|
|
|
|
14) Is the Episkopos R.J. Gumby here? If so, what title(s) has he
|
|
offered you?
|
|
|
|
A) Who knows? He just flashes into being....
|
|
B) Yes. Pope Archbishop Bobo, Chaser of Pigeons, Plunger of Lakes.
|
|
(* Do Huron for me, okay? *)
|
|
C) Only in spirit.
|
|
D) Yes. President of the Universe. (* SURE he did. *)
|
|
E) I don't know. My twit filter is operational at BTN parties.
|
|
|
|
15) How many cigarettes have you smoked this evening?
|
|
|
|
A) Packs or just individually?
|
|
B) 3,745. (* Man, this guy is gonna DIE. *)
|
|
C) What kind of cigarettes?
|
|
D) None. I only carry cigarettes if I know a beautiful babe
|
|
smokes. (* "You're both sick, then." quoteth Ricky Eanes. *)
|
|
E) Passively: 122,678.
|
|
F) None. I ate 36.
|
|
|
|
16) What time did you arrive, and what time do you plan to leave?
|
|
|
|
This was a terrible question. People actually put down
|
|
the time that they were going to leave. Poor souls.
|
|
|
|
A) I hid in the basement since 4:30 AM.
|
|
(* Is that why the cat was acting that way? *)
|
|
B) Not long ago and maybe soon. After all, I haven't seen
|
|
too many laser lightshows, right?
|
|
(* AHA! A City Stages freak!! Kill 'em! *)
|
|
C) That's a stupid question. Think of something else.
|
|
D) Now, then. (* SARCASTICNESS AT ITS BEST!!! NOT! *)
|
|
E) 7pm-5am-Denny's Run.
|
|
|
|
17) Is there any software pirating going on in the MATRIX room? If
|
|
so, were you involved, and may we call the FBI?
|
|
|
|
A) I don't know, but call them anyway. Those guys have a
|
|
good party. (* With handcuffs, of course. *)
|
|
B) What are you talking about? Pirating is illegal!
|
|
C) Er... Could be. (* COULD BE? Beep, boop, bip. *)
|
|
D) I never download, so I wouldn't know.
|
|
E) Yes, and I won't be responsible if you do.
|
|
F) PIRATES!? Hide the women and children! No, I didn't
|
|
see any schooners.
|
|
|
|
18) Go up to Mark Kieskowski and tap him in the forehead. Did he fall
|
|
down?
|
|
|
|
This was a good one. Many people actually proceeded
|
|
up to Mark and tapped him in the face. He didn't fall
|
|
down, at least that I saw.
|
|
|
|
A) Touch me and die. (* Don't worry, Mark. We'll leave that
|
|
for Foshee. *)
|
|
B) No. He fell up. (* That's where the ceiling got cracked! *)
|
|
C) He just got here. He was already on the ground. Kicking
|
|
him DID elicit a groan. (* I shoulda tried that! *)
|
|
D) No, but he offered to stick his tongue in my ear.
|
|
E) Who? (* I always thought Omega was big news! No pun
|
|
intended. *)
|
|
|
|
19) What exactly is GIFLITE, and how should it be treated?
|
|
|
|
A) Peanut butter with half the calories, roughly.
|
|
B) A program that does exactly what JPEG does, but
|
|
because it seems not to, Omega Ohm likes it.
|
|
C) A horrible program by someone who wanted to make
|
|
something everyone would think is from Phil Katz.
|
|
(* I can see it now. PKGIF. *)
|
|
D) Quartz halogen bulb to be installed in monitors
|
|
prior to viewing GIFs. (* I get it! *)
|
|
E) A new drink. � the calories that water has!
|
|
(* Half of none! A new record! *)
|
|
|
|
20) How many GIFs do you download on a daily basis and what
|
|
exactly do you use them for?
|
|
|
|
A) I d/l 10 a day and beat off at them. Oooh!
|
|
(* That doesn't surprise me. *)
|
|
B) I don't download peanut butter.
|
|
C) For getting out tough stains.
|
|
D) I don't download. I have my computer on the same network
|
|
as The MATRIX. (* Hmmm. Maybe I should patch my system
|
|
into The MATRIX. *)
|
|
E) I don't believe in GIFs ever since I found out it
|
|
was pronounced JIFs.
|
|
|
|
21) How many times has The MATRIX been down this month?
|
|
|
|
A) Hasn't visited me once.
|
|
B) 2 times on Node 6. (* Listening, Rocky? *)
|
|
C) You mean it's up now?
|
|
D) �-1 (* I give up. Why? Why Euler's number? WHY? *)
|
|
E) I hasn't gone down on me! I'd know.
|
|
F) � (* Okay. Infinity is a little much. *)
|
|
|
|
22) If you could have your life made into a movie, who would
|
|
play your part?
|
|
|
|
A) Richard Geer. (* It's spelled "Gere", idiot! *)
|
|
B) Goofy. (* At least THEY were honest about it. *)
|
|
C) Gene Wilder. (* That guy? NO WAY! *)
|
|
D) Captain Caveman. (* HIM? *)
|
|
E) Emmanuel Lewis. (* Not! *)
|
|
F) TIMMY!
|
|
|
|
23) Do you plan on eating any floppy disks in the near future, and,
|
|
if so, what condiments would you use?
|
|
|
|
A) Latex on sheepskin. (* Yuck. *)
|
|
B) I only like SyQuest cartridges, Peon! No taste!
|
|
C) Salt and Mustard. (* Salt for the boot sector, no doubt. *)
|
|
D) Cheese dip. (* The perfect remedy for F.A.T. tables. *)
|
|
E) Can't afford to waste them. (* I agree! *)
|
|
F) Yeah. 3�'s with mustard.
|
|
|
|
24) If you were to win $1,000,000 dollars, how would you spend it?
|
|
|
|
A) I'd LAN the city. (* That's an awful lot of cords and
|
|
workstations, you know. *)
|
|
B) VAX and the biggest HD availiable. (* Infinite storage capacity. *)
|
|
C) Set up a different house for each of my gentlemen.
|
|
D) Too late. I already talked to Ed.
|
|
E) Donate to BTN. (* ALRIGHT!! WE'RE IN THE MONEY! *)
|
|
F) Unwisely. (* As would many of us, I'm sure. *)
|
|
|
|
25) Comments? Suggestions? Give me hell?
|
|
|
|
A) Bugger off.
|
|
B) You suck. (* Thanks, my good man! *)
|
|
C) Why no good trees to eat? (* What? Say that again? *)
|
|
D) Not enough truly sleazy questions.
|
|
E) What a great party. Why should I give you something that
|
|
you already have and live with daily?
|
|
F) If I see another goddamned questionnaire, I'm gonna scream.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
The Adventures of R.G. Strangemind and Herbert
|
|
by Jeremy Lewis
|
|
Copyright 1991 by Jeremy Lewis
|
|
no reprints without the permission of the author
|
|
|
|
Chapter V
|
|
|
|
Emperor Splort was on the rampage. In only three minutes he
|
|
proceeded to destroy the entire contents of the royal bedroom not to
|
|
mention a very lovely antique table that his great grandfather had made
|
|
by hand. In other words, it was not very intelligent of the youngest
|
|
council member to disturb him. Furthermore it had probably been the
|
|
most idiotic move that the late counselor had ever made. The counselor
|
|
realized this as his' head sailed off his shoulders and out the window.
|
|
The other counselors decided that they would postpone any further talks
|
|
with the Emperor until he was in a better humor or as Emperor Splat III
|
|
once said, "They ran like hell."
|
|
|
|
Emperor Splort grabbed an axe from a recently demolished trunk and
|
|
began swinging at the fleeing Counselors. A few of the counselors made
|
|
it through the door before he could position himself in front of it, but
|
|
a great many of them leapt for the only other exit...the windows. In
|
|
fact, it was the sight of all his council running about his bedroom and
|
|
leaping out windows that finally began to calm the Emperor down. It was
|
|
then that Emperor Splort for the first time in two days began to smile.
|
|
He patted the axe in his hand with a dark gleam in his eye. "I'll get
|
|
you Slob! You may have gotten away with bungles before, but this time.
|
|
This time we've got you!"
|
|
|
|
Meanwhile back in the large gray spaceship, at about the same time
|
|
Emperor Slob began his rampage, a klaxon began to sound. A pleasant but
|
|
artificial male voice was heard throughout the ship. "Slob, I really
|
|
must have your help on the bridge. I can't fly the ship all the time
|
|
without a human instruction. Oh yes...Emperor Splort has issued a
|
|
reward for anyone who can capture you, although the reward is greater
|
|
for bringing back your lifeless body. Thank you." Slob stared at the
|
|
intercom in disbelief and then looked at Herbert, who was still stuck in
|
|
the wall. Disbelief turned to glee as Slob formed a plan.
|
|
|
|
While all this was going on, R.G.'s body had been coming closer and
|
|
closer to the ship's powers. It had almost turned once or twice, but as
|
|
if it were guided by some mystic sense of destiny, it continued to head
|
|
straight along the corridor, to itself ultimate demise. As it run along
|
|
the corridor the scenery began to change. The beautiful white walls
|
|
were now red and bore large warning labels which had R.G. been
|
|
inhabiting it he would've recognized as an odd form of english.
|
|
|
|
It was as R.G, was inspecting a strange machine, which seemed to do
|
|
nothing more than sing odd folk songs about toasters, that R.G. felt a
|
|
presence.
|
|
|
|
"Hello?" said R.G.
|
|
|
|
"Greetings," responded a pleasant but artificial voice," existing
|
|
on both the astral and physical plane has allowed me to detect your
|
|
presence."
|
|
|
|
"Amazing!" whispered R.G. "Who? What? are you?"
|
|
|
|
"I am the ship computer. I hope you enjoy your stay on this ship
|
|
and your body is heading towards certain death in the ship's powercore.
|
|
Thank you."
|
|
|
|
R.G. desperately began searching for the ship's powercore.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Windows 3.0 review: BackMenu 2.2
|
|
by Eric Hunt
|
|
|
|
This month's Windows 3.0 shareware review covers one of my all-time
|
|
favorite programs! BackMenu 2.2 is a utility that everyone should get,
|
|
and get it NOW, for BackMenu gives users of Microsoft Windows a GUI
|
|
feature that XWindows users on UNIX workstations have had all along with
|
|
mwm, and that's a root menu. (mwm is the window manager in many XWindow
|
|
terminals) In XWindow parlance, your desktop is called the root, so
|
|
BackMenu is a desktop menu for Windows. What it gives you is the power
|
|
to have a completely customizable menu of applications and actions to
|
|
immediately hotkey to with the click of a mouse button on the desktop.
|
|
|
|
BackMenu's most powerful feature is the ability to nest menus
|
|
within menus, until eventually the computer runs out of memory! While
|
|
most people wouldn't go that far, it is nice to click on the desktop and
|
|
have a menu come up that says has Graphics, WordProcessing,
|
|
Telecommunications, Icon Management, etc on it, with the individual
|
|
applications falling under those logical menus. BackMenu is extremely
|
|
customizable, and this is another one of it's high points. You can tell
|
|
it that a right button click should activate the menu, the left button,
|
|
or even the center button. You can also add horizontal bars to the menu,
|
|
to separate the items into groups.
|
|
|
|
Another excellent ability BackMenu has is the ability to read the
|
|
current program manager groups, and place each of them in a menu, with
|
|
all of the applications contained within available for immediate
|
|
launching! This makes it VERY easy to run a program that you have
|
|
installed in Progman, but don't have a custom entry for it in BackMenu.
|
|
There are also other internal action items that can be placed in the
|
|
menu, such as launching a program from a command line, unloading
|
|
BackMenu from memory, and a fast exit from Windows.
|
|
|
|
The only aspect of BackMenu which could use improvement is the
|
|
actual way that you customize the menu! It is necessary to import the
|
|
menu definition file into an ASCII editor and make changes that way.
|
|
There is a syntax, not unlike a language, and it must be followed to the
|
|
letter. This might be beyond the capabilities of the casual Windows
|
|
user, and it would definately turn some users off on the program. An
|
|
object oriented menu-editing program is one solution, a program that you
|
|
could edit the menu structure graphically, and have the program generate
|
|
the menu definition textfile. Champagne wishes and caviar
|
|
dreams.........
|
|
|
|
BackMenu is an extremely helpful utility for the Windows 3.0
|
|
environment. It has the ability to put more of your programs closer to
|
|
you, without the need to drag up Progman. I would recommend it as a
|
|
necessary component of any good Windows 3.0 utility collection. BackMenu
|
|
2.2 is written by a chap from England, and he is charging 20 British
|
|
pounds for the program. This is extremely expensive, in my opinion, as
|
|
that translates to very close to $40, US. I have sent the man mail
|
|
repeatedly, on both CompuServe and the Internet, asking for the American
|
|
price. If I don't get a response soon, BackMenu will have to be placed
|
|
in the "neat, but I really can't use it" category. I hope I hear from
|
|
him, and get to keep it in my utilities directory for good!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Notes from the Trenches
|
|
by Dean Costello
|
|
|
|
This Month: "Tales of the Swine Family"
|
|
|
|
There's not much time to tell this story. The sun will come
|
|
up in two hours, and I want to be gone by then. But it will not
|
|
be easy. I have a whole roomful of weight to move out of this
|
|
bedroom by dawn, and as always, there is no one around to help.
|
|
One friend could make a big difference now, but its 4 o'clock in
|
|
the morning, and all decent people are in bed. So much for
|
|
friends. I am sitting in a bedroom on the edge of a mountain in,
|
|
amazingly enough, Mountain Brook. The upstairs room to the right
|
|
in the back of the Mohney house to be precise. There is a quiet
|
|
florescent glow coming from the downstairs kitchen that can be
|
|
just seen from where I sit. That florescent light is the
|
|
brightest thing in my universe right now, it lights up much of
|
|
the downstairs in the dark, predawn hours, where Mrs. Mohney will
|
|
be leaving for work in a couple of hours. There are a bunch of
|
|
cars parked outside, either in or next to the garage. A
|
|
Cavalier, some kind of mutated Pontiac 6000 station wagon, and a
|
|
red Fiero. My own car, an '86 golden Fiero, is about 75 feet
|
|
away from the terminal that I am using. And I know that the gas
|
|
tank is full. I filled it up last night at about 9:30pm. The
|
|
woman running the Amoco asked me where I was going. I mumbled
|
|
something about going to Cuba. The woman laughed; but I didn't.
|
|
I went back to making sure that the car was ready to go. Top off
|
|
the gas tank, make sure the oil is okay, check the transmission
|
|
fluid. Give the car whatever it needs. Or whatever it wants, for
|
|
that matter. For when you are out on the interstate, that car is
|
|
going to be your best friend in the entire world. Cuba is only
|
|
290 miles away, but I have the feeling that I am going to be able
|
|
to make it to Havana much easier than even ten miles from this
|
|
nightmarish situation that I have gotten myself into at this
|
|
place.
|
|
|
|
The Mohney's house is a haven, of sorts, they say. Just a
|
|
nice place to stay when one decides to wander down to Birmingham
|
|
and get serious about hanging around. Which is true, as far as
|
|
it goes. This is a nice place. Nice wooden deck out back, rooms
|
|
all over the place with no one in them, quivers of Food and Drink
|
|
downstairs, and unlimited access to a computer terminal. A
|
|
fairly self-contained community away from the storms of the
|
|
outside world. And it is worth the better part of a million
|
|
dollars.
|
|
|
|
The owner is Paul Mohney, an executive at IBM, who is
|
|
looking around for property out in the sticks to retire to. He
|
|
seems to be a fairly important member of Mountain Brook, where
|
|
there is basically no law at all that can't be broken, or bought,
|
|
or at least casually ignored by the right people.
|
|
|
|
I am a guest at Paul Mohney's house, granted this by his son
|
|
Chris when I was forced to come to Birmingham for legal reasons.
|
|
From the foot of the stairs, I can see the doorway to his room,
|
|
about 20 yards away from me across the television room and
|
|
kitchen. And I know he is sleeping heavily on a king-sized bed
|
|
with his wife, a fine and friendly woman about 55 years old.
|
|
|
|
She has been asleep since midnight, and she will wake up
|
|
early to get to BMC Montclair. Paul will wake up later, or at
|
|
least he would on most days. But on this one, I suspect, he will
|
|
be an early riser. It could happen at any moment, in fact. And
|
|
I want to get this story down quick, and be out of this place by
|
|
dawn, because ugly things are about to happen.
|
|
|
|
There's a huge pig's head in Paul Mohney's toilet tonight.
|
|
I put it there about 3 hours ago, just before he came up from the
|
|
downstairs. The snout is poking straight out and up from the
|
|
family toilet, and the pig's lips are glistening with ruby red
|
|
lipstick, and its eyes are propped open. The toilet bowl is
|
|
filled with red commerical ketchup. The first time anyone in
|
|
that house goes into the bathroom and turns the light on, I'm
|
|
going to have to be very alert. We will have SERIOUS action:
|
|
hysteria, wild rage. You know, I've seen a lot of hideous things
|
|
in my time, but the sight of this erie white pig's head in the
|
|
white toilet bowl, with its mouth covered with lipstick and its
|
|
dead grey eyes looking straight up at me, or at anyone else that
|
|
comes near that toilet, will live in my memory forever as one of
|
|
the most genuinely hideous things I have ever seen. The idea of
|
|
waking up in the middle of the night half drunk and wandering
|
|
into your own bathroom and pissing distractedly into your own
|
|
toilet, and realizing, after not many seconds, that there is
|
|
something basically wrong with the noise that normally happens
|
|
when you piss into a bowl of water in the middle of the night.
|
|
And feeling the splash of warm urine on your knee because its
|
|
bouncing off the lipstick-smeared snout of a dead pig's head that
|
|
is clogging up your toilet; that is a bad thing to see when you
|
|
are not at the top of your facilities. And Paul will see it
|
|
soon. He should have seen it a long time ago, in fact, but
|
|
tonight he broke his normal routine of relieving himself before
|
|
falling into bed. At that point, the joke went out of control.
|
|
|
|
I thought, "What have I done?" What if his wife wakes up
|
|
first, which she almost is certain to do. Or Chris, the 20-year
|
|
old son that invited me to stay. I wasn't counting on this. My
|
|
plan had turned weird on me, and now I will have to flee. The
|
|
thing is so ugly that I almost got sick putting the lipstick on
|
|
it. Now, we all enjoy humor, but this is very far over the line.
|
|
We're not talking about jokes here, we're talking about crazy
|
|
ugly; real malice, terrible shock and weeping for a 55-year old
|
|
lady or a 20-year old man-boy; people screaming out of control at
|
|
a sight too vile to see. Innocent people, crawling out of the
|
|
bathroom on their knees, and calling wildly for help from the
|
|
father. And that evil bastard is going to be jerked out of his
|
|
sleep by the terrified screams of his loved ones. And when that
|
|
happens, he is going to turn crazy and want to kill someone or
|
|
have others do it. And they'll come to the right bedroom in the
|
|
back.
|
|
|
|
My room is the only one with lights on tonight, I'm still
|
|
up. I will be on the road very soon; I have a friend up the road
|
|
in Atlanta that will take me in for a while. Jesus! I just
|
|
looked to my left, and I saw the curtains moving. My sliding
|
|
glass door is wide open, and he could jump me at any moment.
|
|
That's why I have this big grey flashlight sitting next to me on
|
|
the desk. It's a fully charged Taser, a savage little tool fully
|
|
capable of delivering a 50,000 volt WHACK to anyone that comes
|
|
within 18 feet. And I've got the bugger primed. WHAPPO, 50,000
|
|
volts, flapping around like a fish, eyes rolling back in his
|
|
head, screeching helplessly, and then taking another shock. The
|
|
Taser will deliver five seperate and distinctly massive jolts
|
|
once the barbs are fired into the victim. You can keep the
|
|
buggers jumping around at the end of the little wire lines for
|
|
almost an hour if the machine is fully charged. I don't want to
|
|
have to do it. The Taser is a felony crime in some states, and
|
|
I'm not sure what it is now in Alabama, but I know that anyone
|
|
that comes through my door at this hour of the morning does not
|
|
have good news for me, and they'll have to be shot with
|
|
something. I am not a violent person, but I know that there is a
|
|
time and place for everything, and unfortunately, this is one of
|
|
those times.
|
|
|
|
I sawed the head off the pig around midnight. Paul had it
|
|
stored in a meat locker, planning to marinate it for a big
|
|
barbecue he has planned for tonight, with the head as the main
|
|
piece of art. I chopped it off with a meat saw in about 45
|
|
seconds, and it took about 45 more to put the lipstick on. The
|
|
tube broke, so I had to do it by hand, rubbing a lump of red
|
|
lipstick around the dead thing's gums like I was waxing up some
|
|
sort of dummy. And then the head wouldn't sit right in the bowl,
|
|
so I had to jerk it up by the ears, and jam it back in a proper
|
|
position. I also had to prop the eyes open, so they'd by looking
|
|
straight up at him. All this took about 90 more seconds;
|
|
sneaking into his room, and putting the pig's head in his toilet.
|
|
Okay, the joke's over now. I have to flee.
|
|
|
|
It's 6:25 on a wet Monday morning, and I know that someone
|
|
will be using the bathroom very soon. The time has come. I
|
|
don't want to be around when it happens, despite a pressing
|
|
deadline that will cost me a lot of money to miss. The bastard
|
|
will not take this lightly. Besides, I owe them money for the
|
|
food and drink I have consummed since I have been here. Indeed,
|
|
I am preparing to flee even now.
|
|
|
|
I told him that that pig was going to be very expensive. He
|
|
and Chris put it into my bed the other night, tied up and
|
|
drugged, and half-hidden under the covers so that I sat down on
|
|
the bed right next to the beast, and began talking serious to my
|
|
accountant who was not amused when the thing suddenly began
|
|
moving and I said, "Ahh, I'll have to call you back, there's a
|
|
pig in my bed." Which was true. I calmed the beast down with a
|
|
billy club, and dragged it downstairs where I set it loose in the
|
|
kitchen. People screamed and cursed me and ran around like rats
|
|
while I chopped the loose. One of the sons cornered it and
|
|
dragged it out to a shed where they slits its throat the next day
|
|
and hung it up to bleed, then they put it into the meat locker to
|
|
cool off.
|
|
|
|
Now, the moral of the story is never let strangers get their
|
|
hands on the key to your meat locker. Also, get out while you
|
|
can. Which I will have to do now. Immediately. The fat is in
|
|
the fire.
|
|
|
|
Epilogue: Chris found it when he woke up to go to school. His
|
|
mother heard him screaming on his way out of the
|
|
house, and then she saw it. "Ye Gods!" she thought.
|
|
What's he thrown up now? "I ate 3 or 4 Valium," she
|
|
said, "And then I called Pete to take the thing away.
|
|
It was three and a half hours before we could use the
|
|
toilet. Paul didn't wake up until noon, and by the
|
|
time he went to the toilet, the head was lying in the
|
|
bathtub."
|
|
|
|
And I was gone. But I'm back now, standing around in the
|
|
kitchen, and people are a lot nicer to me. I buy liters of
|
|
Chivas Regal. And I may be here for a while.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
If Cavemen had Clubs, Why Don't We?
|
|
by Bryan Taylor
|
|
|
|
Since I've been involved in Birmingham's BBSing family, there have
|
|
been many people whose names have shown up on almost any board I call.
|
|
And if there's a popular name I don't see on a board, I'll always hear
|
|
it from someone else! One of these people, for instance, is Mark
|
|
Maisel, our esteemed editor. (If you can honestly say that you haven't
|
|
seen Mark's name on more than one board, then we know that you're
|
|
probably one of those losers whose name WE don't see on more than one
|
|
board).
|
|
|
|
Other people like Mark stand out in my mind because they contribute
|
|
a great deal to the BBSing society (that is, excluding the people who
|
|
stand out because everybody hates them). You know the great
|
|
contributers: the BBSers who host parties, who write articles for BTN
|
|
(ahem...), or who revive the dead message areas with a spark of improved
|
|
conversation. We know these people's names because their name is
|
|
written for us to see: on the beautiful BTN party maps, atop articles,
|
|
and in the headings of messages. But what about the contributers who
|
|
aren't great writers in the message areas, like the BBS users who do all
|
|
the uploading? What about the subscribers who send money to help a
|
|
sysop maintain his or her board?
|
|
|
|
I could go on and on, but I guess it's about time for a point.
|
|
|
|
I'd like to recognize ALL those users who contribute to
|
|
Birmingham's bulletin boards, and I'm sure a lot of sysops out there
|
|
might feel the same. What would a BBS be without users who get message
|
|
areas going strong and file directories filled up? So finally, my
|
|
point: I'd like to organize an inter-BBS club exclusively for those
|
|
users who contribute a great deal to the boards. That includes all
|
|
subscribers automatically; there's no greater contribution then MONEY!!
|
|
(Just kidding, I guess). Then other users may gain membership by being
|
|
recognized as one who does indeed make a good deal of contributions in
|
|
ways other than sending money.
|
|
|
|
Benefits in being a club member would range from simple recognition
|
|
to gaining extra priviledges on the BBS which would host your chapter.
|
|
The club would also have a tri-monthly newsletter free of charge to
|
|
members. Each BBS which would host a chapter of the club would have a
|
|
private message area available only to club members, and each chapter
|
|
would vote regularly for officers. My only problem with getting this
|
|
thing started is that I don't know how anyone else feels. It may not
|
|
sound like anything great, but it could be. Who knows? I hope it can
|
|
become something that would be an honor to BBS users if they were
|
|
accepted into the club. Of course I realize this whole idea may sound
|
|
unnecessary to some of you, and that's why I'd like you to give me some
|
|
feedback. PLEASE take the time to answer the following questionnaire
|
|
and upload it as a message to me on The Matrix.
|
|
|
|
"Will There Be a Club?" Questionnaire
|
|
-------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
1. What is your name or handle you use most often?
|
|
|
|
2. Are you a subscribing member of a BBS? If so, which one?
|
|
|
|
3. Are you a sysop? If so, list name of BBS and phone number.
|
|
|
|
4. If you are a sysop, would you be willing to host on your BBS,
|
|
a chapter of the club discussed above? You are not committing
|
|
yourself with this question. It is merely to let us know
|
|
whether or not sysops would be interested in giving this
|
|
thing a try. Details would be discussed later if you truly
|
|
want to host a chapter.
|
|
|
|
5. Name at least two people which you feel would be most
|
|
qualified for membership in such a club as discussed above.
|
|
Why do you feel they are qualified?
|
|
|
|
6. Do you feel there are enough benefits for club members? If
|
|
not, what else would you suggest?
|
|
|
|
7. How do you think sysops could be encouraged to help out by
|
|
hosting a chapter?
|
|
|
|
8. Do you feel as though this club is a good idea?
|
|
What do you think could be done to make the idea sound more
|
|
appealing to BBS users?
|
|
|
|
If you take the time to send me your answers to this questionnaire,
|
|
it would be GREATLY appreciated, and you would already have made a great
|
|
contribution! Even if you don't want to answer the above questions, I
|
|
would still appreciate any note with a short, yet decent, comment!
|
|
Thank you for your time, and I hope to see you on the boards!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
ProFile
|
|
by Chris Mohney
|
|
|
|
The ProFile is a short, half-serious biographical sketch given to
|
|
various computer telecommunications personalities around Birmingham.
|
|
Victims are selected randomly from a group of names put into the
|
|
notorious Hat. Anyone who thinks himself brave or witty enough may
|
|
petition for admittance to the Hat by leaving E-Mail to me (Chris
|
|
Mohney, most boards around town) to that effect. Anyone who wishes to
|
|
suggest more questions or sneakily nominate someone without their
|
|
knowledge may take the same route....
|
|
|
|
******************
|
|
This Month: He Ain't Heavy ....
|
|
******************
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
Pro-File on PETE MOHNEY
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
Age: 31
|
|
|
|
Birthplace: Cincinati, Ohio
|
|
|
|
Occupation: Computer programmer
|
|
|
|
My hobbies include: Reading sci-fi and fantasy, playing Dungeons and
|
|
Dragons, softball
|
|
|
|
Years telecomputing: .7
|
|
|
|
Sysop, past/present/future of: Pseudo-co-sysop of conferences on Radio
|
|
Free TROAD and Owl's Nest, both RPG's
|
|
|
|
My oddest habit is: Reading while I walk
|
|
|
|
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is: Ruling the world
|
|
|
|
The single accomplishment of which I am most proud is:
|
|
Getting a high paying job for which I have no training whatsover
|
|
|
|
My favorite performers are: Jennifer Roberson, Glen Cook, Orson Scott
|
|
Card, Mercedes Lackey, Katherine Kurtz, any
|
|
hard rock preferably classic
|
|
|
|
The last good movie I saw was: Robin Hood
|
|
|
|
The last good book I read was: Swordbreaker, by Jennifer Roberson
|
|
|
|
If they were making a movie of my life, I'd like to see my part played
|
|
by: Nick Nolte
|
|
|
|
My pet peeves are: People who don't say what they mean, people who don't
|
|
mean what they say
|
|
|
|
When nobody's looking, I like to: Well, if I wanted people to know, I'd
|
|
do it when they're looking!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
SIG's (Special Interest Groups), Computer Related
|
|
-------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
BEPCUG CCS
|
|
Birmingham East PC Users Group Commodore Club South
|
|
Jefferson Sate Jr. College Springville Road Library
|
|
Ruby Carson Hall, Rm 114 2nd & 4th Tuesday (C64/C128)
|
|
3rd Friday, 7-9 PM 3rd Monday (Amiga)
|
|
Paula Ballard 251-6058 (after 5PM) 7:30-10 PM
|
|
|
|
BCCC BIPUG
|
|
Birmingham Commodore Computer Club Birmingham IBM-PC Users Group
|
|
POB 59564 UAB Nutrition Science Blg
|
|
Birmingham, Al 35259 RM 535/541
|
|
UAB School of Education, Rm 153 1st Sunday (delayed one week
|
|
2nd and 4th Sundays, 2 PM if meeting is a holiday)
|
|
Rusty Hargett 854-5172 Marty Schulman 967-5883
|
|
|
|
BACE FAOUG
|
|
Birmingham Atari Computer First Alabama Osborne Users
|
|
Enthusiast Group
|
|
Vestavia Library, downstairs Homewood Library
|
|
2nd Monday, 7 PM 1st Saturday, 1PM
|
|
Benny Brown 822-5059 Ed Purquez 669-5200
|
|
|
|
CADUB
|
|
CAD Users of Birmingham
|
|
Homewood Library
|
|
3rd Tuesday, 6:30PM-8:30PM
|
|
Bobby Benson 791-0426
|
|
|
|
SIG's, Non-Computer Related
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
|
|
BBC Birmingham Astronomy Club
|
|
Blue Box Companions Subject: Astronomy
|
|
Subject: Dr. Who Red Mountain Museum Annex
|
|
Hoover Library 4th Tuesday, 7:30PM
|
|
1st Saturday, 2PM-5PM
|
|
|
|
If you belong to or know of a user group that is not listed,
|
|
please let us know by sending E-Mail to Barry Bowden on
|
|
The Matrix BBS.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Known BBS Numbers For The Birmingham Area
|
|
|
|
NAME NUMBER BAUD RATES MODEM BBS SOFTWARE
|
|
SUPPORTED TYPE
|
|
|
|
* Abject Poverty 680-9680 300-2400 ProLogon/Prodoor
|
|
* Alter-Ego BBS 925-0707 300-2400 MNP4 ProLogon/ProDoor
|
|
* American BBS 674-1851 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Amiga Alliance ][ 631-0262 300-2400 Ami Express
|
|
^ Arkham Asylum 853-7422 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
)*% Bloom County 856-0587 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-* Bus System 595-1627 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
|
*% Byte Me! 979-BYTE! 2400-9600 USR HST WWIV 4.12
|
|
CM(ee) BBS Node 1 655-4059 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
CM(ee) BBS Node 2 655-4065 300-1200 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Camelot BBS 856-0679 300-2400 Telegard 2.5
|
|
-*# Channel 8250 Node 1 744-8546 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-*# Channel 8250 Node 2 744-5166 300-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.5
|
|
* Crunchy Frog Node 1 956-1755 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
* Crunchy Frog Node 2 956-0073 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
DataLynx 322-3425 300-2400 Oracomm5.L.30
|
|
Disktop Publishing BBS 854-1660 300-2400 MNP4 Wildcat! 2.55s
|
|
FM Station 680-9772 1200-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Graphics Zone Node 1 870-5306 300-9600 MNP4 TBBS 2.1(16)
|
|
Graphics Zone Node 2 870-5329 300-9600 MNP4 TBBS 2.1(16)
|
|
Hacker's Corner 674-5449 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Hardeman's BBS 640-6436 1200-2400 Wildcat! 2.55s
|
|
-* Joker's Castle 664-5589 300-2400 PC Board 14.5
|
|
@ K-9 Corner 424-8202 300-2400 Image 1.2
|
|
*& Little Kingdom Node 1 969-0007 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
*& Little Kingdom Node 2 969-0008 300-2400 MNP4 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Long Island 631-0184 300-2400 ???????
|
|
* Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.2
|
|
Martrydom Again?! 491-2876 1200-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
@ Missing Link 853-1257 300-2400 Image1.2
|
|
^ Myth Drannor 699-5811 1200-2400 MNP4 WWIV 4.11
|
|
Outside It's America 951-2473 300-2400 MNP4 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Owl's Nest 680-0851 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Paradise City 853-1439 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
PC Echange Link 663-2759 300-9600 USR DS QuickBBS 2.04
|
|
+ Programmer's Shack 871-3356 300-9600 USR HST Telegard 2.5i
|
|
* Radio Free Troad 979-6183 300-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Safe Harbor 665-4355 300-9600 USR DS GTPower 15.00
|
|
Sperry BBS 853-6144 300-9600 Hayes PCBoard 14.5
|
|
* ST BBS 836-9311 300-2400 PCBoard 14.2
|
|
Strattosphere 833-7612 1200-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
The Commodore Zone 856-3783 300-2400 Image1.2
|
|
The Connection Node 1 854-9074 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
The Connection Node 2 854-2308 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
The Connection Node 3 854-0698 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
^ The Dragon's Hoard 833-3790 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
^ The Edge of Oblivion 520-0230 300-2400 WWIV 4.11
|
|
-*!$(The Matrix Nodes 1-4 323-2016 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-*!$(The Matrix Node 5 251-2344 2400-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-*!$(The Matrix Node 6 323-0799 2400-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
+ The Outer Limits 985-1725 1200-9600 USR HST Ultra BBS ?.??
|
|
The Quiet Zone 833-2066 300-2400 ExpressNET
|
|
+ The Round Table 938-2145 300-2400 Telegard 2.5i
|
|
The Word 833-2831 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Victory Express 425-0821 300-1200 Image 1.2
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 1 979-1629 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 2 979-7739 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 3 979-7743 300-1200 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 4 979-8156 300-1200 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Ziggy Unaxess 991-5696 300-1200 Unaxess
|
|
|
|
The many symbols you see prior to the names of many of the bbs' in the
|
|
list signify that they are members of one or more networks that exchange
|
|
or echo mail to each other in some organized fashion.
|
|
|
|
* = EzNet, a local IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
@ = Image network, a national Commodore network
|
|
|
|
+ = FidoNet, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
- = Metrolink, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
^ = WWIV-Net, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
& = Intellec, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
# = Uni'Net, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
% = ThrobNet, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
! = RastaNet, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
$ = ILink, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
( = TheoNet, a national IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
) = USNetMail, a national IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
If you have any corrections, additions, deletions, etc., please let us
|
|
know via EzNet.
|