1297 lines
66 KiB
Plaintext
1297 lines
66 KiB
Plaintext
BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News
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COPYRIGHT 1991 ISSN 1055-4548
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October 1991 Volume 4, Issue 9
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Table Of Contents
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-----------------
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Article Title Author
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Policy Statement and Disclaimer................Staff
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Publisher's Corner.............................Mark Maisel
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Occult of Personality..........................Scott Hollifield
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Music Reviews..................................Joseph Ray
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The Adventures of R.G. Strangemind & Herbert...Jeremy Lewis
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Notes From The Trenches........................Dean Costello
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August & September Party Wrap-ups..............Colby Gibson
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ProFile: double dose this month...............Scott Hollifield
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Special Interest Groups (SIGs).................Barry Bowden
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Known BBS Numbers..............................Staff
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Disclaimer and Statement of Policy for BTN
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We at BTN try our best to assure the accuracy of articles and
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information in our publication. We assume no responsibility for damage
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due to errors, omissions, etc. The liability, if any for BTN, its
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editors and writers, for damages relating to any errors or omissions,
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etc., shall be limited to the cost of a one year subscription to BTN,
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even if BTN, its editors or writers have been advised of the likelihood
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of such damages occurring.
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With the conclusion of that nasty business, we can get on with our
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policy for publication and reproduction of BTN articles. We publish
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monthly with a deadline of the fifteenth of the month prior to
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publication. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so at any
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time but bear in mind the deadline if you wish for your work to appear
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in a particular issue. It is not our purpose to slander or otherwise
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harm a person or reputation and we accept no responsibility for the
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content of the articles prepared by our writers. Our writers own their
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work and it is protected by copyright. We allow reprinting of articles
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from BTN with only a few restrictions. The author may object to a
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reprint, in which case he will specify in the content of his article.
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Otherwise, please feel free to reproduce any article from BTN as long as
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the source, BTN, is specified, and as long as the author's name and the
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article's original title are retained. If you use one of our articles,
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please forward a copy of your publication to:
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Mark Maisel
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Editor, BTN
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221 Chestnut St.
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BHM, AL 35210-3219
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(205)-956-0176
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We thank you for taking the time to read our offering and we hope that
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you like it. We also reserve the right to have a good time while doing
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all of this and not get too serious about it.
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F R E E B I E : G E T I T W H I L E I T S H O T !
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The following boards allow BTN to be downloaded freely, that is with no
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charge to any existing upload/download ratios.
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The Connection LZ Birmingham Alter-Ego
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Channel 8250 Little Kingdom Joker's Castle
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Crunchy Frog Myth Drannor Posys BBS
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The Matrix Abject Poverty The Bus
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The Outer Limits Bloom County The Round Table
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DC Info Exchange Radio Free Troad Programmers Shack
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Amiga Alliance ][ DataLynx Martyrdom Again?!
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Arkham Asylum
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If you are a sysop and you allow BTN to be downloaded freely, please let
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me know via EZNet so that I can post your board as a free BTN
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distributor. Thanks. MM
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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N E W S F L A S H
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We are going to have another party!!! This past summer, for the good
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parties we got to have, it just wasn't enough! We are going to invade
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Rocky's again for another Halloween Masquarade Party!!!
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The party will take place October 26th, from 6 p.m. until it is over.
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The following is a map to his place from the main streets in downtown
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Birmingham near UAB. Rocky and I both will gladly offer more directions
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over the phone for any who need them. Please be advised of Rocky's
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house rules in the invitation/map before you arrive so you know what to
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expect.
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Rocky's Rules
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1. Bring your own whatever so long as it is legal.
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2. If you are a minor, then stick to soft drinks.
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<--- Downtown 20th Street Homewood --->
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ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
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ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
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³ ³
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³ ³ MAP TO BTN HALLOWEEN PARTY
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³ ³ ROCKY'S HOUSE
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UAB ³ ³11th HOME OF The MATRIX BBS
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CAMPUS ³ ³Ave.
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AREA ³ ³ Rocky Rawlins (205) 323-6608
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³ ³ Mark Maisel (205) 956-0176
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ÚÄÄÄ¿ ³ ³
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Business ³ ³ ³ ³ ³³ (Next to the ³ ³
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& ³ ³ ³ ³ ³³ last house ³ ³
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Engineering³ ³ ³ ³ ³³ on the right) ³ ³16th
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School ÀÄÄÄÙ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ³Ave
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(3 story brick) ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄXÄÄÄÄ¿ ³
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³ ³ 11th ³³ 1426 ÛÛ ÛÛ³ ³
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³ ³ St S. ³³ 11th ³ ³
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³ ³ ³³ St. S ³ ³
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Publisher's Corner
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by Mark Maisel
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LAST MINUTE NEWS! Yes, this issue is late too.
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There is an excellent reason for it. I had to go to
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New Orleans to aid a friend in need, and I have been
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on the road most of Monday night, and Tuesday night.
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I spent my time in New Orleans not doing the
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wonderful things I usually get to do, but dealing
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instead with bureaucrats, and I got about one hour
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of fun in the French Quarter, eating dinner before
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hitting the road again. I apologize for the delay
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but it could not be avoided. MM
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It has been a real eye opener for me this past month, being deluged
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with messages, phone calls, and visits, asking me the status of what
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should have been the September '91 BTN. It wasn't limited to locals
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either. I'm glad to see that some folks at least collect BTN, and some
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even, gasp, read it. It is a long story as to how there came to be no
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BTN this past September, but I will summarize it.
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I usually reserve the last week of each month for tossing the ASCII
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salad that becomes BTN. I am active in many civic areas, of which PTA
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is one. This kept me more busy than I might otherwise normally be, as
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the last week of August is the same week that children in the city of
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Birmingham return to public schools. As if this were not enough, it
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also was the week that Kathy's, my wife, leukemia decided to run amuck.
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As a result, I spent all my time shuttling back and forth between the
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hospital, the board of education, and Sarah's, my daughter, elementary
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school, where I am PTA president, and sidekick of the principal. Kathy
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was in the hospital for over a week, and when she was allowed home, I
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got to play nurse as well. Understand that I am not complaining. I am
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merely explaining so that you can in turn reply along the lines of, "so
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what, you weren't THAT busy...". Of course, anyone who knows me, knows
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my typical, slow Southern pace of life and movement. I just don't rush,
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except when RayHugh is down from Noo Yawk, so that he will feel more at
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home. Anyway, that is what happened, and that is why the September
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issue didn't occur. I hope you like this one.
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Oh yes, the parties...they have been coming at a pretty good clip,
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haven't they? Well, we're not done yet. The biggie for the year is
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almost upon us. The Annual BTN/MATRIX Halloween Masquarade Party will
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take place October 26th, at Rocky Rawlin's home. The usual invitation
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and map may be found in this issue, and posted in EZNet. Please make an
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attempt at a costume. It is so much more fun when we all make fools of
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ourselves, rather than limiting it to a very few.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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** ----------------------- **
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** OCCULT OF PERSONALITY **
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** ----------------------- **
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Mike Staggs is the latest BBS-scene
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phenomenon to come down the pike, and
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in some ways, the easiest to
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understand.
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by Scott Hollifield.
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The Birmingham BBS scene is such a vast amorphous lumpy sea of
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goop, it's rare when you can put your hand in, pull out something that
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smells like good solid clean Controversy, and say to yourself, "This is
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somethin' else."
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The story of Mike Staggs is somethin' else.
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Not since the glory days of Dean Costello has the local BBS
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community seen a pariah the likes of Mike. He has been accused
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alternately of being a perverted Satanist and a conniving girlfriend-
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stealer. He has made enough enemies that he has considered avoiding
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the next BTN party to avoid a physical confrontation. On one
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particular BBS, he has been the subject of virtually every message war
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over the past month.
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Yet the similarity to Dean begins and ends with the level of
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notoriety. While Dean deliberately provoked his adversaries - indeed,
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never before has an opposition group so fairly yelled "you started it"
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- Mike seems befuddled by all the publicity. Ironically enough, Mike's
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profile has decreased somewhat over the course of the past year.
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He was notorious for different reasons about a year ago when he
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first entered the local BBS scene, using both his real name and the
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handle "Lord Baron". It was on the Alter Ego's Politics conference,
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and Mike made his first mark by posting some rather hair-raising
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opinions, particularly how black people were biologically different
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from white people and how the Holocaust never happened.
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***
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***
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"I grew up around bigots and the Klan," Mike explains. "It carried
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over into my teenage years when I worked at McDonald's and had several
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problems with colored persons in my recent years." Numerous attacks by
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muggers and street gangs helped reinforce his racist upbringing, he
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says. Met with an intense backlash on the board, Mike shifted his
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sociopathic throttle to Christian-bashing - a decided change of heart
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for someone who had been called to preach in the Pentecostal church at
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the age of fourteen.
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Mike preached at his hometown church until he was seventeen,
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although he never did get an exhorter's license, which would have
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allowed him to float as a minister, as well as perform baptisms and
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marriages. But at the same time, Mike was undergoing the usual
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assortment of teenage identity crises, and in rebelling, chose to rebel
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against Christianity, a spark which he says is not completely gone.
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"I do carry over a little... because I see all the rejection and
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shunning coming my way because of the 'Christian' views people have
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grown up with."
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Mike began using a modem in May of last year, and his first wave of
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controversy hit the following summer, during his period extremist
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politics on the Alter Ego. It was a taste of things to come.
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Mike's own BBS went up in August 1990, during this period. It
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was called, appropriately, "The Hanging Tree". Immediately, he
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appealed to the local sysops-only network for access, and for the first
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time, the restricted network, which was essentially a social group
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until this point, hit its first major snag.
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Questions were asked about Mike's board. Members were concerned
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that The Hanging Tree might be a potential base of operations for local
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skinhead activity. One local co-sysop expressed disgruntlement that
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Mike was coincidentally a vocal anti-Christian. Another interpreted
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the name of Mike's BBS as a distorted reference to the crucifixion.
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The net result was that the Birmingham sysops-only network instituted a
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set of strict rules and guidelines for membership, including a waiting
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period for new sysops.
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Mike says that, after he had been using BBSs for a short time, he
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grew out of the prejudiced attitudes that formed the basis of his early
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messages, calling his white supremacy connection "a phase of my life I
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could do without". To reflect this, he changed the name of his own
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board to "The Round Table" at around the first of the year, and
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attempted to inject a new Arthurian flavor into it. For a short time,
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public attention went away.
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Mike's head may have been clear on race relations, but theolog-
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ically, he was still confused. After a brief flirtation with Wicca, or
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witchcraft, he retreated to Christianity through the help of a friend
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and fellow BBS user, Dawn Atchison. He and Dawn had become close
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friends, and to this day Mike claims that he was never seriously
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attracted to Dawn. Despite this, Mike made some enemies through this
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relationship. Dawn was dating another BBS user named Barry Fields, and
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friends of Barry frowned on Mike's relationship with her, blaming Mike
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when Dawn decided to call it quits with Barry.
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Mike believes that some of the recent controversy over him is due
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to leftover bad feelings from the Dawn cycle. In any case, Mike became
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disillusioned with religion once again, a disillusionment which severed
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his friendship with Dawn. She has since gotten married, although not
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to Barry. (Dawn Atchison could not be reached for comment.)
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Through this, some BBS users had been publicly accusing Mike of
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falsely "converting" to Christianity just to gain Dawn's affections,
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and when he seemed to simultaneously give up religion and part ways
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with Dawn, it looked as though they might have been right.
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"At this time, I didn't really know what to believe," Mike recalls.
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"I was really out on a limb." Spiritually confused and publicly
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condemned for it, Mike attempted to take his own life in March 1991.
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Mike regards this time as a "transition period". "I was reaching
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for some solution to my problems. Christianity did not hold the
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solution for me." After emerging safely on the other side of this
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trial by fire, he eventually began involving himself in a belief known
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as Thelema.
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Thelema is a ritualistic sect of the occult based in part on the
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work of Aliester Crowley, the early-20th century writer widely
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considered to be the father of contemporary occultism. Mike stresses
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the benevolence of Thelema, which has nothing to do with Satanism or
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other dark forms of the occult. In fact, it might be safe to say that
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Christianity and Satanism are closer kin than Thelema and Satanism,
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since Thelema is not prededicated on the existence of a deity. The law
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of Thelema, as recited by Mike, is "Do what thou wilt shall be the
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whole of the Law. Love is the Law, love under Will." Mike explains
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that this does not mean that people have a right to do anything they
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want, but rather that personal freedom should not be restricted as long
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as it does not infringe upon the will of others. Indeed, in contrast
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with the red-and-black devil fire image of Satanism, parts of Thelema
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exhibit a positively Eastern air of peace and lightness.
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"I believe there is a force," explains Mike patiently, "A spirit if
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you will, that created all things and resides in all things. The
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Hindus call this force 'Akasha'." He compares this force to the
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Christian belief in a "holy spirit", but is quick to note the
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differences as well: the force that he believes in is genderless, and
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did not have a hand in writing the Bible.
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Mike is also careful to distinguish Thelema and the somewhat
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trendier flavor of occult known as Wicca. Wiccan beliefs constitute a
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vaguer and more generalized religion; it combines a group of diverse
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folk religions and encourages spontaneity. Thelema, on other hand, is
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highly ritualized, demanding specific rules and ceremony from its
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adherents.
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Mike is involved with a national Thelema organization called OTO,
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or Ordo Templi Orientis, which boasts lodges in most cities in the
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country. Mike's board recently began carrying echoes from the OTO's
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national Thelema network, 95Net. The Round Table's public association
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with the occult unnerved some, and angered others.
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Mike claims that his occult beliefs caused him to be temporarily
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locked out of The Word BBS, a primarily-Christian system run out of
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Roebuck Park Baptist Church by clergyman Rod Lewis. The co-sysop of
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The Word, Andy Jones, locked Mike's account out ostensibly on the
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basis of some rough language Mike had used in a message. Mike claims
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that the language was quoted from another user, a user who himself was
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not locked out for the original post until days after Mike was, thus
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causing Mike to suspect prejudice against his personal beliefs. Mike's
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access was restored within a week, but recently, he was locked out yet
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a second time, this time by the sysop himself, apparently for something
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he posted to a Christian user in the middle of a debate on religion.
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Mike called up the church to complain but was told that Rev. Lewis was
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not in; four hours later, Mike's access was restored. (Neither Andy
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Jones nor Rod Lewis could be reached for comment.)
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**
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**
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The occult aspect of Mike's BBS was not the only thing that got him
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in trouble. The following is a message posted on Willie's Dial-Your-
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Match dated August 7.
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FROM: LEIGH LEIGH
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TO: ALL
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SMRY: Lord Baron
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is there anyone else on here who lord baron has called? He called
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me about 2 weeks ago to verify me and he wanted to talk for along
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time, first i told him i was watching t.v. and the second time i
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called him i told him my boyfriend didn't want him to call me
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anymore. I have heard that i am not the only one he has done this
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to. Is there anything that can be done about him????
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This message prompted a storm of response, mostly accusing Mike of
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overstepping his bounds as a sysop, particularly where female users of
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his board were concerned. Several alleged instances were brought up
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of Mike using the phone numbers of female users from The Round Table
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in an effort to call them up and get to know them better.
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Mike insists that his only crime in this matter is being an amiable
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sysop. He says that voice validation is a routine part of his duties,
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that he calls males as well as females, and that, rather than hanging
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up after immediately verifying a user's identity, he prefers to chat
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with them a little while, particularly if he and the user have a mutual
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interest or acquaintance, as he says was the case with Leigh. Besides,
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Mike claims that Leigh never exhibited any reluctance to talk and even
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told him to call back until the second phone call, after which he left
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her alone.
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Another user, who uses the handle "Zelda" on Willie's, had also
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posted her negative feelings against Mike, but later put up a
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retraction. "It was wrong of me to post that message...before asking
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him what happened," she says. "I think everyone is blowing this whole
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thing rather out of proportion." Mike says that the original post in
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this incident stemmed from a personal relationship between him and
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Zelda that had gone sour.
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Someone else told me that Mike "got obnoxious" when she told him to
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stop calling her. She didn't want her name used in connection with
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this story - not because she didn't want to be associated with him, but
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because she didn't want to be seen publicly criticizing him. "I don't
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want to hurt [his] feelings," she says. "You gotta at least feel a
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LITTLE sorry for him... he meant to be nice I think." Simultaneously,
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she admits, "He still sort of scares me for some reason."
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That reaction was not an isolated one where Mike's occultism was
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concerned; someone posted on Willie's that being on The Round Table
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gave her "the heebie-jeebies". Another user of Mike's board requested
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that his account be deleted because "funny things" had been happening
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to him since he signed on.
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Mike had his defenders at the time, though; among them was Lisa
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Patterson, whose handle is "Rhiannon".
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"I have to take up for Mike now," she posted publicly. "He called
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a few times, but not to flirt. It was always just to talk about
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stuff... he never once hit on me."
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Lisa would change sides after the BTN party of August 17.
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**
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**
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For the most part, the parties hosted by Mark Maisel and Rocky
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Rawlins for the BBS community have long been a primary focus of the
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PC-Board set, the BTN writers and readers and sysops who have known
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each other for years. However, in the last year, the users of more
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casual boards like Willie's have also made their presence known at the
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parties, and it was this presence that watched as Mike entered the
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spotlight of notoriety once again. In all its years of operation,
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Willie's Dial-Your-Match had discovered its first real live BBS user
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scandal.
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Her name was Kim Hurst, and she was one of the users who didn't
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mind talking to Mike. In fact, Kim and Mike became fast friends, and,
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weeks before the party, Mike began visiting her at work since it was in
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close proximity to his own job. Whenever Mike dropped by, Kim would
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take her break and the two would talk.
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At the time, Kim was dating Eric Wray, better known by the handle
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"Tanis". Kim claims that her relationship with Eric was deteriorating
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gradually, and cites numerous instances of tension. "We just weren't
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getting along," she says. "We argued all the time."
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|
|
"We never ONCE had an argument," Eric asserts. "I worshipped the
|
|
ground she walked on."
|
|
|
|
"Well, they weren't so much arguments as just disagreements," she
|
|
explains. The disagreements, she said, were never allowed to evolve
|
|
into real hostility. Nevertheless, she insists that she had planned on
|
|
breaking up with Eric for some time, and was just waiting for an
|
|
opportunity to do it. She found one the weekend of August 17; on the
|
|
night of the party, Kim came with Eric and left with Mike.
|
|
|
|
Eric claims he didn't even know until the next day, saying that Kim
|
|
had arranged to leave the party with Denise Deerman, a BBS user who
|
|
ultimately wasn't able to make it. Mike says that Eric must have seen
|
|
that something was going on when Kim moved her personal things into
|
|
Mike's car before Eric's eyes.
|
|
|
|
Whichever was the case, Kim left Eric a message on the board the
|
|
next morning saying that she wanted to break up. The same morning, Kim
|
|
and Mike decided to strengthen their friendship into a relationship,
|
|
although she insists that her attraction to Mike was coincidental, and
|
|
didn't enter into her decision to end the relationship with Eric.
|
|
|
|
The users of Willie's didn't quite see it that way. Most were
|
|
outraged in the way that only people who witness a scandal can be; many
|
|
jumped into the discussion just to be part of the fight. Mike believes
|
|
that the resulting public backlash was a cynical political maneuver by
|
|
Eric to get people rallying behind him no matter what the issue; Eric
|
|
simply chalks it up to friends defending him when he'd been wronged.
|
|
|
|
Mike says that this public rage over his behavior with Kim likely
|
|
won't deter him from attending the next party, although he doesn't want
|
|
to force Kim to attend. Kim, for her part, doesn't see herself shying
|
|
away either.
|
|
|
|
"I know about five or six [people] who want to hurt him physically.
|
|
He is in a lot of trouble with my friends," remarks Eric darkly, "And I
|
|
can't control what they do." Eric also expresses the hope that the
|
|
next party will see him attend with a new girlfriend.
|
|
|
|
"You might say that I am more than interested now," ponders Mike
|
|
after hearing of the veiled threat. "More than curious. I think I
|
|
have to go now."
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
Mike and Kim are still steady as of this writing, despite
|
|
ill-wishers who predicted that Kim would drop Mike just as she did
|
|
Eric, or vice versa. Interestingly, their respective religions play
|
|
litte part in the relationship. Kim says that she was "born and raised
|
|
a Southern Baptist," although when pressed, admits that she's not
|
|
particularly devout. Mike has shared his Thelemic beliefs with her,
|
|
although she has shown no interest in adopting them. It is not his
|
|
place to convert, Mike says, saying that his religion doesn't recruit
|
|
members. "If you want to get into [Thelema]," he says, "You have to
|
|
get in on your own merit. No one will try to 'witness' to you." As
|
|
for Kim's own beliefs, Mike admits wryly that he did spend some time
|
|
considering the implications of being associated with "a Christian
|
|
girl", but decided to plunge ahead anyway.
|
|
|
|
Mike Staggs has switched religions at least twice, maybe more, over
|
|
the past year, yet he seems to have satisfactorily settled into one
|
|
that agrees with him. Despite questions of his conviction from
|
|
skeptics, he describes himself as happier than he's been in a long
|
|
time, saying, "I feel much more comfortable with myself." He has a
|
|
new girlfriend also. At someone else's expense? Well, that depends on
|
|
to whose side one chooses to be sympathetic.
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
As for the publicity and the controversy, Mike finds a kind of mild
|
|
fascination in all of it, and likes to think of himself as "the new
|
|
Dean Costello".
|
|
|
|
As an afterthought, though, he quickly adds: "That doesn't mean I
|
|
wanted to be, though."
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Music Review
|
|
by Joseph Ray
|
|
|
|
Hello boys and girls! BTN is glad to resume publishing of a music
|
|
review column. We don't know how long this one will last, but we'll try
|
|
and continue the column as long as we are able.
|
|
|
|
This month, I would like to share some of my opionions with you on
|
|
three new albums that have been released into the music stores as of
|
|
recently: Seal's self-titled debut "Seal;" Dire Straits newest "On Every
|
|
Street;" and Guns-N-Roses "Use Your Illlsusion #2."
|
|
|
|
First heard back in late July, Seal, a Britain, introduced himself
|
|
into the States with a nifty tune "Crazy." But, I would have to say that
|
|
this song is not related to the rest of the music on the album. "Crazy"
|
|
has a little rock-n-roll mixed in with the techno-pop to create a sound
|
|
that gives the song grit. There are one or two other songs on the album
|
|
which also have some of this grit, but generrally, the album is dance
|
|
music with a disco-esque beat and synth-pop melodies. I only listened to
|
|
this album twice to get the feel of his art. Lets just say that I'm glad
|
|
that this is an album that I borrowed to listen to and not something
|
|
that I wasted my money on.
|
|
|
|
Dire Straits - "On Every Street"...MArk Knopfler shows his southern
|
|
origins with this album. On every street corner is a twist of twanging
|
|
blues and slide guitar work, though not as much as someone like Bonnie
|
|
Raitt. Again, the first release doesn't characterize the album in any
|
|
way.."Calling Elvis" has more of a rockabilly sound which is left out in
|
|
some of the other songs in which the blues influence is prominent. Don't
|
|
look for any long guitar solos or eight minute continuations of a
|
|
musical theme- the songs on this album tend to run about four minutes
|
|
which is unlike their previous album "Brothers in Arms." This album has
|
|
its own separate flair, but is a return to the days of the first album,
|
|
though it doesn't coincide with the musical trends of the 90s. Its a
|
|
regression album, a back to their roots escapade, and something to enjoy
|
|
listening to when you feel the need to relax from this geared up world.
|
|
|
|
Guns-n-Rose's "Use Your Illusion #2" is one of two albums just
|
|
released recently. Axl Rose decided to have the album sold in separate
|
|
boxes so that the kids can afford at least half the album since they
|
|
might not have the money to buy the entire set at one time. It should be
|
|
pointed out thta this also makes the band a little more money. The
|
|
second of the two contains the infamous song "Civil War" which complains
|
|
about the wars which take place within our society and how we are going
|
|
to destroy our society with the "hate we're breeding." This tune rocks
|
|
with a message of peace. This album also has a studio version of Bob
|
|
Dylan's "Knockin on Heaven's Door" which sounds much better than the
|
|
live version seen on MTV. There is an improvement on Bob Dylan's version
|
|
too - you can understand the words (most of the time). There ae many
|
|
interesting songs on this album such as "Get in the Ring" where GNR
|
|
takes swings at Bob Guccione, Jr., and other music tabloids which make
|
|
money by criticizing GNR. "Estranged" and "Locomotive" are another
|
|
couple of nifty rocking tunes that each last over nine minutes. If I
|
|
were you, I'd listen to the last song first, it is the strangest of them
|
|
all complete with synthesizers and special effects (which none of the
|
|
other songs use ). Its a damn good album and should be given a fair
|
|
listen...like "The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ," there are many
|
|
people that hate GNR that have never listened to them. This is your
|
|
chance to decide for yourself.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
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 VII
|
|
|
|
Back on the large gray spaceship. Herbert and Slob continued,
|
|
unknowingly, in Ginger's direction. Ginger was angry, hungry and
|
|
desperately wanted to kill the robot that had given him a flea bath
|
|
instead of a haircut.
|
|
|
|
R.G.'s mindless but strangely mobile body, was walking towards the
|
|
now open metal door, when R.G.'s mental presence entered the hallway
|
|
"screaming","Nooooooooo!" R.G. rushed towards his body when suddenly he
|
|
struck a barrier and his body turned to him smiling. (Maybe I was being
|
|
a bit hasty when I said mindless, eh?)
|
|
|
|
Slob was excited. His plan was working, the big earthling was
|
|
following him, and he had yet to be killed. There had been an old legend
|
|
among his people that one there would come forth The Great Stupid One
|
|
who would come forth and return them to the light. Perhaps this
|
|
earthling was him, or atleast would pass for him.
|
|
|
|
Herbert, who was currently following the strange blue alien (Slob),
|
|
wasn't thinking of anything, but of course that wasn't unusual.
|
|
|
|
Back on the planet Slag, however, Emperor Splort was thinking of
|
|
something. he was thinking of different ways he could kill Slob, many
|
|
of which involved strange any many times interesting uses for a size
|
|
fifty one drill.
|
|
|
|
"Oh yes," he thought,"This will indeed be fun." Soon the Imperial
|
|
flag ships would be ready and he could head after Slob with all the
|
|
firepower he would ever need.
|
|
|
|
Ginger was still heading down the corridor when he saw a blue alien
|
|
come around the corner. Ginger grinned and spoke (Well sort of) for the
|
|
first time.
|
|
|
|
As Slob looked at the large purple thing with a lot of teeth, he
|
|
didn't worry...they don't exist right? Atleast that's they way he
|
|
reacted until it grinned at him and began to howl. It took him almost a
|
|
full half of a second to turn around and then he was running for his
|
|
life.
|
|
|
|
Herbert was following the strange blue alien and staring blankly,
|
|
when suddenly the alien changed direction and collided with his chest.
|
|
Had Herbert been more attentive, he may have heard the howling and began
|
|
running in the other direction, instead of staring at the blue alien and
|
|
trying to puzzle out what was going on. Fortunately, Ginger's appearance
|
|
made everything clear.
|
|
|
|
Meanwhile in the corridor outside the ship's powercore, R.G. was
|
|
puzzled, which was beginning to happen far to often than the most
|
|
intelligent person on Earth would've liked.
|
|
|
|
"Who are you?" he stammered to his body, wondering how it could
|
|
perceive on the astral plane and if it could even hear him. It could.
|
|
|
|
"Now that I have your attention", came a loud rumbling voice, "I
|
|
shall introduce myself. I am called Toastus. On many different worlds I
|
|
have many different names. I am called Malted by the ice men of
|
|
Creamia, Splagnat by the people of the planet Slag, but of all I prefer
|
|
the name Toastus, for it is a true name of power! You, R.G. Strangemind
|
|
shall be my emmisary in this cosmic mission. You shall be a crumb sent
|
|
forth from my self to the..."
|
|
|
|
"Excuse me, my dear Super powerful Entity, but what are you talking
|
|
about?"
|
|
|
|
Toastus was not amused.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Notes From the Trenches
|
|
by Dean Costello
|
|
|
|
"Will This Ever End?"
|
|
|
|
Mark Maisel, our erstwhile editor, informed me a couple of days ago
|
|
that the last 3 "Notes From the Trenches" are unacceptable as a result
|
|
of 'emotional baggage', I believe that was the excuse that he used. As
|
|
a result, when I thought that I had a 3-month backlog and didn't really
|
|
need to write things for a while, I was suprised, shocked, and horrified
|
|
to learn that I had to lash something together for today.
|
|
|
|
The real problem is that I am fresh out of ideas. Most of the "NFTT"
|
|
was a safety valve so I wouldn't cut the heads off of my parents and put
|
|
them into a bowling ball bag, but since I haven't been in Maryland for
|
|
over a month, and haven't seen Mother and Father for about an even 6
|
|
weeks, there is very little emotional turmoil that would lead to a good
|
|
"NFTT".
|
|
|
|
Which isn't to say that there isn't emotional turmoil. My brother, who
|
|
is engaged to the "Blonde Moppet" as Chris Mohney refers to her, still
|
|
refuses to tell me that he is engaged. Scott is using a tried and true
|
|
method for handling conflicts: Ignore them and hope that they will
|
|
either go away or solve themselves on their own accord. At one time I
|
|
would have been hurt by his attitude, but now I am more entertained, and
|
|
it also gives me a lot of lee time to figure out the 'perfect' wedding
|
|
gift. Hiring some pregnant street urchin to crash the reception and
|
|
demand to know what he is going to do about "our baby" seems an
|
|
appropriate present. Yes, my brother is terribly kitty-whipped, and he
|
|
just got engaged. I figure that after he loses a dozen or so friends,
|
|
and maybe a job or two, the Blonde Moppet will be sent to 'Jealous and
|
|
Possessive Girlfriend/Wife Hell', but in the meantime I have to suck it
|
|
up and pretend to tolerate her.
|
|
|
|
Which I don't. And I am pretty sure that he/she realizes it, also. I
|
|
am in a curious position in that I think that she is jealous of the time
|
|
that Scott and I spend together, and I am not used to being someone that
|
|
someone else would be jealous of. Did this happen in Birmingham? When
|
|
I spent a lot of time with Mark and Kathy Maisel, were there contingents
|
|
of BTN-ers who were wandering around their parent's basement thinking to
|
|
themselves, "Damn that Dean Costello. What's he got that I don't? What
|
|
makes him so special that he gets to spend all that time over there?
|
|
Why can't it be me that's eating Kathy's Yellow Noodles From a Box and
|
|
Those Curious Chicken Things That She Cooks in the Wok That Came From
|
|
the Freezer instead of that asshole? I'm funnier than he is, I know
|
|
more computer stuff than he, I can run Windows, and he can't AND ADMITS
|
|
IT IN PUBLIC! IT ISN'T FAIR, DAMMIT!"? I never dreamed that I would be
|
|
someone that others would envy.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, whenver The Moppet is around, I ain't. Hell, I'm even polite to
|
|
her, in an icy way; similarly to the way that she treats me. Oh yes,
|
|
holidays are fun...But I can live with this arrangement, though it does
|
|
somewhat bother me how callous ol' Scott-o has been to the rest of the
|
|
family since he got his first piece of ass. I refer you to a scene in
|
|
"Ferris Bueler's Day Off", when Ferris is talking about how Camaron's
|
|
first girlfriend will treat him. I see parallels...
|
|
|
|
Oh well, I guess I can't change anything. But Lord knows I try. I
|
|
discovered the ultimate uselessness in trying to "rescue princesses that
|
|
own dragon farms" but I continue trying to help (albeit I feel like I am
|
|
the family doctor to some rich family; I keep saying, "Stop smoking,
|
|
take your medication", etc., etc. and they refuse to take my advice), I
|
|
tried to convince a friend/acquaintence that they should take a more
|
|
active step in planning their future (to no avail), and I am right now
|
|
involved in a remediation effort that has the antipathy, if not the
|
|
outright hatred, of the local community. There seems to be a common
|
|
bond, in that many things I do seem to be ultimatly an exercise in
|
|
futility.
|
|
|
|
I can't help being empathetic, I guess that's why I went into Public
|
|
Health in the first place. I guess that's also why people call me or
|
|
contact me with their problems. I can't quite understand why they
|
|
would, given my certifiably caustic personality, on-line if not in
|
|
person. But they do. Don't get me wrong, though, I am pleasantly
|
|
suprised that individuals think enough about me that they would come to
|
|
me for advice, but what is very frustrating is that after they come to
|
|
me, assumably because they believe I will give 'good' advice, they
|
|
promptly ignore it, and go on their merry way. And there I am: sticky,
|
|
broke, and confused (Listen to Sam Kinnison's first or second tape).
|
|
|
|
I don't know. I was debating weaving in a little something about how I
|
|
cannot REALLY open up to people. Open up? Indeed. Hell, most of the
|
|
time, I generate a persona and ethos on the spot. I kind of feel like
|
|
T.S. Garp, from "The World According To Garp", in that my past history
|
|
is constantly being refined and re-invented depending on the audience.
|
|
Did you really grow up Catholic? No, a little Methodist, but that's
|
|
about it. Dad grew up Catholic, but I have never attended any Catholic
|
|
religious ceremony. Are your parents wealthy? Wealth is a relative
|
|
term: Mom believes we are only one step above migrant workers, but I
|
|
see what Dad brings in from Grandma's Bar & Grill; on the whole I would
|
|
say no. Have you ever been in a relationship? No. Ever? Not that I
|
|
am aware of, and I believe it does take two to tango, as it were. Did
|
|
you live with Monica? Yes I did, but she slept downstairs, and I slept
|
|
upstairs. We did live together, but only in the loosest sense of the
|
|
word. How many of your 'clever' anecdotes were true? Very few, but I
|
|
cannot remember which ones you (plural) may have heard. Dammit, Dean,
|
|
did you even live in Maryland? Yeah, people had seen my Maryland Drivers
|
|
License and the plates on the Fiero. Hell, Mark's even been to our
|
|
'palacial manor home overlooking the Chesapeake' <snort>.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, I had to get some of that off of my chest. As I said above, I
|
|
alter and edit my past to better fit a current circumstance. The
|
|
problems occur, obviously, when several people have heard different
|
|
variants of the same story, and they are in the same locale when I tell
|
|
it to someone else, and they therefore hear an entirely different
|
|
version of the same <hopefully> clever anecdote. I feel badly when I am
|
|
forced to generate a persona, but the general consensus is that my
|
|
generated past is a lot more interesting than my actual past. I
|
|
apoligize to you (plural) for the deception, but something tells me that
|
|
you would rather hear about my break from the Roman Catholic Church than
|
|
about the night my grandfather died, or about my uncle the coke head
|
|
than my uncle the crappy businessman, or about the good times in
|
|
college, and not the shitty freshman and sophmore years I spent there (a
|
|
little lie: The sophmore year was better than the freshman, but not by
|
|
much), or about Dad's favoritism towards my brother than when he and I
|
|
would play catch.
|
|
|
|
Don't shoot me, I'm only the story teller; Gabby Costello and his
|
|
Down-Home Travelling Wagontrain of Tales. Unfortunately the Wagontrain
|
|
is big, the stuff in it is funny, clever, and deceptively accessible,
|
|
and its all too easy to start believing your own press releases...
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
August Party As Seen By Colby Dude
|
|
by Colby Gibson
|
|
|
|
The BTN party went smoothly, other than the several "interesting"
|
|
parts where there was someone drunk out of their mind. After arriving at
|
|
the Maisel home with the Sullivans, I aspired to sit next to the
|
|
Maisel's very expensive piano.
|
|
|
|
I must say, that "plant" outside sure is marvelous. I hope that
|
|
whatever film was on Scott's camera was revived after Chris was so
|
|
fortunate to drop it. Pictures galore were taken by Tyros that evening,
|
|
many of which will be used for blackmail in the future (If you had your
|
|
picture taken, hide. Now!)
|
|
|
|
Chris Mohney's camera suffered power problems, and he was unable to
|
|
take pictures as long as I could see. Kevin Buchan added a wonderful
|
|
scene to the evening. After beer after beer (He couldn't recall the
|
|
number he imbibed, but we estimate that the number reaches over his last
|
|
total) he entered into a very "interesting" stupor. After leading the
|
|
poor soul onto the back porch, beer and a large portion of my Gatorade
|
|
were spilled upon the Kev-man's head. Of course, he didn't mind. I think
|
|
the only time he was even dazed was when his shoelaces were tied
|
|
together and mine. I didn't move, however, and poor Kevin was vaulted to
|
|
the floor. And, Kevin, next time try and be a bit faster with the 'ol
|
|
Kiss, ok?
|
|
|
|
Most of my evening was spent dazed in the Maisel's bowlish chair,
|
|
and quite a few people involved themselves with playing away at the
|
|
keyboard situated in the middle of the house. Many sounds could be heard
|
|
erupting from the Peavey amp, and after a while, the poor fellows left
|
|
the sound making device.
|
|
|
|
Several cakes were brought to the party this time, and I must say,
|
|
they were pretty good. Many people were inhaling the baked treats, and
|
|
even the few that normally don't eat anything were found eating the
|
|
stuff. Many chips and drinks went around, and I believe that I overheard
|
|
Maisel saying that it was the first time in the history of BTN that they
|
|
actually ran out of beer. I am quite sure that someone, somewhere had
|
|
some beer hidding somewhere.
|
|
|
|
The police action showed up about 11:30, and it wasn't to tell us
|
|
to calm the hell down. Poor Lisa's car was swiped by someone that will
|
|
go unnamed right now (No lawsuit for me, thank you) but If you know,
|
|
smile to yourself. I don't know the outcome of the situation, but from
|
|
what I saw of the police car, they stayed down the street a while.
|
|
|
|
The second car problem occurred when poor Mike Stagg's tire was
|
|
flattened by someone or something and he spent a good few minutes in the
|
|
Maisel's driveway changing the tire out.
|
|
|
|
Eric Hunt's car also experienced technical difficulties, and after
|
|
getting about 200 short feet down Chestnut street the car needed a jump.
|
|
Unfortunately, the jump didn't work out and the Sullivans took the poor
|
|
fellow home. I am glad to hear that the car didn't become impounded.
|
|
|
|
Kevin Buchan was put to bed, and, of course, he ended up in the
|
|
floor, laughing to himself. After interrogation, he was moved back to
|
|
the place where he was put to begin with. The other Lisa was pretty
|
|
drunk and was put to bed as well. I didn't see her again until a few
|
|
hours before the Denny's run and she didn't look altogether well. I hope
|
|
you are feeling much better now. Can we say slight hangover?
|
|
|
|
Mark Kieskowski stayed by his car for a while and listened to his
|
|
music because Maisel removed the speakers from his living room area. The
|
|
music could be heard by sitting on his hood and he didn't care how you
|
|
sat on the car.
|
|
|
|
The Whippets were let loose and ran through the living room.
|
|
Everyone screamed, of course, and they were quickly dealt with. Outside
|
|
and into the cage they were put.
|
|
|
|
The scanning machine and keyboards were gone, of course, and access
|
|
to the Frog and Maisel's machine were restricted. Local lurking was
|
|
prevented because the Monitors were disabled. Any other discoveries in
|
|
the Frog room were limited.
|
|
|
|
The Denny's run happened at around 4 or a little after, and there
|
|
were few people left in the Maisel home. Erica, myself, and a few other
|
|
patrons sat in the living area and conversed when Maisel came into the
|
|
room and brightened the evening. Patsy and a couple of friends WALKED to
|
|
the store down the street and picked up some good exercise.
|
|
|
|
I must note at this time that Bill Freeman gave me some very
|
|
interesting advice that evening. I must say, though, that it seemed he
|
|
sucked in a little too much of the drugs and was quite spaced. I hope
|
|
you have returned to normal.
|
|
|
|
Sysops were everywhere, Rocky and Janet leaving quite early into
|
|
the evening to unpublished whereabouts. Tom Egan added spice to a dreary
|
|
existance, and Bill Freeman's advice is still adding to my life. The
|
|
Sysop of "The Edge of Oblivion" was outside, but I don't recall your
|
|
name right now. Randy Hilliard was there, as was Omega Ohm. Kathy was
|
|
around, taking in much liquid. Sumeet Paul was there along with Joe
|
|
Hardwick, the wonderful inventor of Vortek. I don't recall if Rick
|
|
Morgan was there, but I think I heard his name after I sucked in that 3
|
|
liter.
|
|
|
|
Ricky Eanes failed to show, much to Mark Kieskowski's
|
|
dissapointment....
|
|
|
|
Hmmm, I must say that this recap is nothing compared to what really
|
|
went on, but through my eyes, shut and open, this is what I saw.
|
|
Hopefully next time there will be more people (Man, were there PEOPLE!!)
|
|
and more Beer!
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
September Party As Seen by Colby Dude
|
|
by Colby Gibson
|
|
|
|
The BTN party was on the 21st. If you showed up at Maisel's house
|
|
at 6 the next day, too bad. You should have listened better. Try the
|
|
next one.
|
|
|
|
A very "far away" guest was present at this last party. Raymond
|
|
Hugh came from New York. You should all tell him "thank you" for gracing
|
|
us with his presence.
|
|
|
|
After begging and pleading and forking over a substantial amount of
|
|
money to the Sullivans, I had a ride. When we got there, quite a few
|
|
people were already around imbibing a small amount of alcohol. Chris and
|
|
Dean were on the porch with the usual, and Scott Hollifield was there
|
|
drinking something. Ray was drinking some foreign stuff and a newcomer,
|
|
Tagyn had something that required some of the very volatile Gatorade
|
|
that I had brought with me.
|
|
|
|
Mark Maisel was in the Frog room with quite a few of the regulars
|
|
engaged in "technical talk". The BTN slideshow was going as usual, and,
|
|
as you would normally expect, the keyboards were GONE.
|
|
|
|
As the evening progressed, many people decided to show their faces,
|
|
including Kelly Rosato and Mark Kieskowski (And by the way, I REALLY
|
|
liked your hair). Mike Tyner was around taking in some of that toxic
|
|
cake that was brought. Episkopos R.J. Gumby stood in the den for quite a
|
|
while and when Rocky showed up, Michael came with him. To entertain the
|
|
mighty Bobo was a Mountain Dew bottle that was mysteriously banged upon
|
|
my head for quite a while.
|
|
|
|
Erik Peek was around, offering nice hugs to those that wanted them.
|
|
We know what you did with Sarah, Erik. We know.
|
|
|
|
This brings me to the part about the Vinegar. To those that were
|
|
directly or even indirectly affected by this foul liquid, I did not know
|
|
that one of Maisel's fine plastic glasses had a very large hole in the
|
|
bottom of it.
|
|
|
|
I must say that this is the first time that an amusement ride has
|
|
been offered at the BTN extravaganza. Maisel's bowlish shaped chair was
|
|
converted into a makeshift centrifuge for some nice spinning. A few
|
|
fellows that were taking in 15% Orange Juice, and yes Garret and Shawn,
|
|
it was fifteen, took a ride in the chair. Unfortunately, the goal of
|
|
getting them to hurl was not achieved.
|
|
|
|
Someone please tell me why Kevin Buchan didn't show up? Was it the
|
|
beer and Gatorade from the last party?
|
|
|
|
As the evening progressed, our very own Chris Mohney and Erica
|
|
Sullivan detached themselves from each other long enough to exit the
|
|
house. Sufficive to say, this aroused the attention of the BRU posse,
|
|
especially Maisel, who ran with all speed to fetch his camera. After
|
|
many moments waiting with bated breath, Maisel returned. I have not seen
|
|
the pictures, but for those that did endeavour to go out to Chris' car,
|
|
you know what is on the film.
|
|
|
|
Early that morning, the first Denny's run left the Maisel home. I
|
|
went on the second to engage in the throwing of sugar packets and the
|
|
imbibing of some very noxious water. For those that were there, Doug
|
|
Griffin and the throwers put up a nice fight. It was then time for the
|
|
food. I related my depressed state to Garrett and Shawn, and Sarah was
|
|
engrossed in rolling a wind up car across the table.
|
|
|
|
Our very own Lurch-buddy was there, although doing what I cannot
|
|
fully explain for the very safety of my head and other bodily
|
|
appendages. Those of you that know, revel in your knowledge.
|
|
|
|
Some very foul stuff was going around the Maisel home, including
|
|
some fruit punch and warm orange juice. It seems that our buddy Mike
|
|
Staggs took in some of Dean's 190 too early into the evening, for our
|
|
friend seemed to be very knocked out for the longest that I can
|
|
remember. Raymond was feeling quite nice.
|
|
|
|
The Ranellis were there, I believe, if not I am sorry. All of these
|
|
names get me quite mixed up. Deborah Bolen was there. Doug Griffin came
|
|
without the help of MacTiffy with fries.
|
|
|
|
Jason Ellis showed up to the Party, along with Tamara. They stayed
|
|
there long enough for me to get in a "hello". Mark Kieskowski left with
|
|
all speed because it was "boring". Granted, there were not that many
|
|
people there as there usually are, but some very fine things happened
|
|
that evening.
|
|
|
|
Patricia Sullivan was around, so if you didn't get to meet her and
|
|
get a hug then too bad. Try next time.
|
|
|
|
Richard Foshee and a few others were able to get ahold of a
|
|
keyboard early in the morning for some heavy duty error-correcting
|
|
dialing. Richard's board froze, however, so we didn't get to stay there
|
|
very long. Eric Hunt cared not for the keyboard.
|
|
|
|
After all of this and the Denny's run it was pretty much sleep. I
|
|
found the Maisel's easy chair to be very comfortable. I was able to
|
|
sleep, for, um, 20 minutes before I was kicked awake by Erica. We paid
|
|
our respects and left.
|
|
|
|
For those of you that were dying to get recognition but didn't, I
|
|
am sorry. Sue me. Those of you that did, good for you. At the Halloween
|
|
party, I wanna see some COSTUMES! (And try not to hit me that hard next
|
|
time, Erik)
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
ProFile
|
|
by Scott Hollifield
|
|
|
|
Yes, this is my first ProFile for BTN, since Chris has managed to
|
|
escape the clutches of our editor by moving to Tuscaloosa. For right
|
|
now, at least, the only change will be the byline; however, this doesn't
|
|
mean that there won't be changes to come. I have to have some way of
|
|
leaving my own personal mark, right? Watch this space. For now, here's
|
|
the same old introductory paragraph that I swiped from Chris:
|
|
|
|
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 (Scott
|
|
Hollifield, 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....
|
|
|
|
For my freshman profile, we hear from yet another of our Frog-mates
|
|
out Atlanta-way.
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
Pro File on VALERIA PALMER
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
Age: Old enough to know better
|
|
|
|
Birthplace: Yes
|
|
|
|
Occupation: writer/office manager/gifted amateur chef
|
|
|
|
My hobbies include: cooking, eating, peeling wallpaper, combing
|
|
the cat, needlepoint, tickling Sarah Maisel, scuba
|
|
diving and reading.
|
|
|
|
Years telecomputing: 3 1/2 or thereabouts
|
|
|
|
Sysop, past/present/future of: do I look like I'm that crazy?
|
|
|
|
My oddest habit is: I wear my glasses in the shower
|
|
|
|
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is: dive the Great Barrier Reef
|
|
in Australia and then go live in NYC.
|
|
|
|
The single accomplishment of which I am most proud is: While I was a
|
|
reporter, I succeeded in getting a corrupt hospital
|
|
administrator, who had bankrupted a community hospital, fired
|
|
and prosecuted and the board of directors replaced. The hospital
|
|
is now fiscally sound again and serving the community as it was
|
|
intended to.
|
|
|
|
My favorite performers are: Sarah Maisel and Kathy's whippets
|
|
|
|
The last good movie I saw was: Reds
|
|
|
|
The last good book I read was: Travels in the Land of the Gods
|
|
|
|
If they were making a movie of my life, I'd like to see my part played
|
|
by: Whoopi Goldberg. She's got a much better tan and I don't
|
|
like her hairdo at all - but Lord, that woman can cop an attitude.
|
|
|
|
My pet peeves are: Ideologues and others who wanna run my life.
|
|
|
|
When nobody's looking, I like to: lick the spoon.
|
|
|
|
-----------
|
|
|
|
Since September 1991 passed without an issue of BTN, my first time
|
|
at the ProFile desk provides me with an opportunity to give you two of
|
|
the darn things to make up for missing it last month. And, as an even
|
|
extra-special treat: it's the first ever MatriFile -- husband and wife
|
|
delightfully contrasting each other on this, our beauteous public forum.
|
|
For anyone curious as to why the WIFE'S answers come first, the simple
|
|
explanation for that is: that's the way they came.
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
ProFile on DEBORAH and RALPH BOLEN
|
|
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
Age: (DB) mentally: 3 1/2, physically: old enough to know better
|
|
(RB) a few nanoseconds past 27 and 13/16ths
|
|
|
|
Birthplace: (DB) Chicago, but I've lived in B'ham since I was 4 weeks
|
|
old. Ohmigod! Does this make me a transplanted
|
|
Yankee??!! Is there a vaccine for this affliction?
|
|
(RB) T-Town (Tuscaloosa)
|
|
|
|
Occupation: (DB) computer consultant/programmer, slumlordette, Abuse
|
|
Goddess
|
|
(RB) Barrister, counselor, mediator, advisor, debugger,
|
|
consultant, abuse-catcher & lightning bolt dodger
|
|
|
|
My hobbies include: (DB) I'm a hopeless computer addict & BBS junkie.
|
|
There! I've admitted it. I feel sooo
|
|
much better now! Also, sailing,
|
|
snow-skiiing, raising orchids & parrots
|
|
(but not in the same place!), SF, Star
|
|
Trek, creating high-calorie desserts
|
|
(RB) Cross-examination, sailing, skiing (snow &
|
|
water), photography, eating sushi, eating
|
|
high-calorie desserts
|
|
|
|
Years telecomputing: (DB) lurking: 5 or 6 years; active: about a year,
|
|
but I'm quickly making up for lost time!
|
|
(RB) 11+
|
|
|
|
Sysop, past/present/future of:
|
|
(DB) not yet, but if Ralph has anything to say about it
|
|
(he's been wanting to start a board for years)
|
|
guess who will endup maintaining that BBS? If
|
|
you guess correctly, you win a cookie!
|
|
(RB) Past: co-sysop of the Professional's Board;
|
|
Future: coming soon to a modem near you!
|
|
|
|
My oddest habit is: (DB) Zapping defenseless mortals. I'm trying to
|
|
control it, really I am!
|
|
(RB) Ordering from out-dated computer catalogs
|
|
when the prices were REALLY high
|
|
|
|
My greatest unfulfilled ambition is:
|
|
(DB) to be Supreme Abuse Goddess (only kidding Your
|
|
Maggieness!)
|
|
(RB) Flying without the aid of mechanical devices
|
|
|
|
The single accomplishment of which I am most proud is:
|
|
(DB) turning off the computer long enough to get some
|
|
housework done
|
|
(RB) Sneaking on to the computer while house-work is
|
|
being done!
|
|
|
|
My favorite performers are: (DB) music: Bonnie Raitt, k d lang, Dave
|
|
Grusin, Andreas Vollenweider;
|
|
acting: Bette Davis, Mel Gibson,
|
|
Bogart
|
|
(RB) Musicians: Asleep at the Wheel, k d
|
|
lang, Talking Heads; Actors: Danny
|
|
Glover, Robin Williams, Mel Gibson
|
|
(but not for the same reason the
|
|
wife likes him)
|
|
|
|
The last good movie I saw was: (DB) Doublecrossed
|
|
(RB) Terminator 2
|
|
|
|
The last good book I read was: (DB) the only books I've read lately
|
|
were computer manuals, so don't
|
|
ask <sigh>
|
|
(RB) "McElroy on Evidence" - 4th
|
|
Edition (it was good, but I
|
|
didn't say it was fun)
|
|
|
|
If they were making a movie of my life, I'd like to see my part played
|
|
by: (DB) Bette Davis (now THAT was an Abuse Goddess!)
|
|
(RB) Kermit the Frog
|
|
|
|
My pet peeves are: (DB) things that tear everywhere BUT the dotted
|
|
line, line noise, computer malfunctions
|
|
that I can't figure out, junk mail (but
|
|
junk phone calls are worse). Seriously;
|
|
injustice, the clearing of the Amazon rain
|
|
forest, greed
|
|
(RB) Shallow minds, assumptions, Richard Simmons,
|
|
Farfignookie commercials
|
|
|
|
When nobody's looking, I like to: (DB) I can't tell you! People are
|
|
looking!!
|
|
(RB) Take showers, change clothes,
|
|
wipe.
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
* 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 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
^ Arkham Asylum 853-7422 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Baudville 640-4593 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
&)* 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
|
|
Connection Node 1 854-9074 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Connection Node 2 854-2308 1200-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Connection Node 3 854-0698 1200-2400 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
|
|
Downgrade Evolution 823-4858 1200-2400 Vortek 1.49
|
|
Flip Side 798-3961 300-2400 Telegard 2.5i
|
|
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
|
|
I.S.A. BBS 995-6590 300-9600 HST Remote Access
|
|
-* Joker's Castle 664-5589 300-2400 MNP4 PC Board 14.5
|
|
*& 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
|
|
Liverpool Connection 856-0267 300-1200 WWIV 4.12
|
|
* Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300-9600 USR HST PCBoard 14.2
|
|
@ Missing Link 853-1257 300-2400 Image1.2
|
|
^ Myth Drannor 699-5811 1200-2400 MNP4 WWIV 4.11
|
|
Optical Illusion 853-8062 300-1200 C-Net
|
|
Outside It's America 951-2473 1200-2400 MNP4 Vortek 1.48
|
|
Owlabama BBS 833-8345 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Owl's Nest 680-0851 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
Paradise City 853-1439 1200-2400 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
|
|
+ The Bone Yard 631-6023 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
The Commodore Zone 856-3783 300-2400 Image1.2
|
|
^ The Dragon's Hoard 833-3790 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
^ The Edge of Oblivion 520-0230 300-2400 WWIV 4.11
|
|
The Madhouse! 428-3061 300-9600 USR V.32 Telegard 2.5i
|
|
-*$(The Matrix Nodes 1-4 323-2016 300-2400 PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-*$(The Matrix Node 5 251-2344 2400-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
-*$(The Matrix Node 6 323-0799 2400-9600 USR DS PCBoard 14.5
|
|
The Monster 967-4839 300-2400 Telegard 2.5i
|
|
+ The Outer Limits 985-1725 1200-9600 USR HST Ultra BBS ?.??
|
|
The Quiet Zone 833-2066 300-2400 ExpressNET
|
|
+ The Round Table 938-2145 300-2400 Telegard 2.5i
|
|
The Safety BBS 581-2866 300-2400 RBBS-PC
|
|
The Word 833-2831 300-2400 WWIV 4.12
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 1 979-1629 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 2 979-7739 300-2400 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 3 979-7743 300-1200 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Willie's DYM Node 4 979-8156 300-1200 Oracomm Plus
|
|
Ziggy Unaxess 991-5696 300-1200 Unaxess
|
|
|
|
The many symbols you see prior to the names of many of the bbs' in the
|
|
list signify that they are members of one or more networks that exchange
|
|
or echo mail to each other in some organized fashion.
|
|
|
|
* = EzNet, a local IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
@ = Image network, a national Commodore network
|
|
|
|
+ = FidoNet, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
- = Metrolink, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
^ = WWIV-Net, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
|
|
& = Intellec, an international IBM compatible network
|
|
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# = Uni'Net, an international IBM compatible network
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% = ThrobNet, an international IBM compatible network
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$ = ILink, an international IBM compatible network
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( = TheoNet, a national IBM compatible network
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) = USNetMail, a national IBM compatible network
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If you have any corrections, additions, deletions, etc., please let us
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know via EzNet.
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