T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
    +--------------------------+------------------------------------------+
    | .----------------------. |      dr.debug: dr.debug@filegate.net     |
    | | A monthly E-Zine     | |      bbslists: bbslists@filegate.net     |
    | | published by Fidonet | |      articles: fidogazette@filegate.net
    | | to promote BBSing    | +------------------------------------------+
    | |          ____________. |                                          |
    | |         /  __          | "Anyone who has never made a mistake     |
    | |        /  /  \         |  has never tried anything new."          |
    | | WOOF! (  /|oo \        |                                          |
    |  \_______\(_|  /_)       |                      Albert Einstein     |
    |             \@/ \        |                                          |
    |             .---.\    _  |                                          |
    |       _     |usb| \   \\ |                                          |
    |      / |    .___.  \   ))|         Editor:  Janis Kracht            |
    |     /  |    /_ |  /  \// |                                          |
    |    |___|   // || _\   /  |         janis @ filegate . net           |
    |    .--`-. (_|(_|(____/   |         janis kracht 1:261/38            |
    |    |____| (jm)           |                                          |
    +--------------------------+------------------------------------------+

    =======================================================================
    ==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Contents=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
    =======================================================================

    Editorial         ....................Editor's rants/raves (2)
    News: New Members (Z1) .............A list of new members! (3)
    Returning Members (Z1)................Old friends come back(3)
    The Old School Toolbox.....................................(4)
    Backup Fidonet Routing Connections, a Possible Plan. ......(6) 
    Is It Time? ...............................................(7)
    Linux Tips ................................................(8)
    Food...Even SysOps have to Eat!............................(9)
    FidoGazette BBS List......................................(10)
    Dr.Debug Answers Your Questions...........................(11
    BBS Gamecorner............................................(11)
    Info: ..........Where to send your articles...............(12)
    Solutions.................................................(14)

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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009


    ---------
    Editorial
    ---------


    One of the great aspects of Fidonet has always been the response from
    people when you ask for help.  I don't think I've ever seen quite the
    response elsewhere.  People are just plain happy to help.  

    And so this month, Richard Webb comes onboard with tech columns and the
    like.  I'm looking forward to them a great deal.  I'll probably do a few
    myself since I've been running a variety of mailers and bbs programs
    over the years.. I started with Binkley-Term and a single modem in 1989,
    then moved on to FrontDoor and two line bbs with two USR Courier HST
    modems.  By the time the FileGate started in 1994, I was running two
    V.Everything 14.4 modems, and I remember Ron, my husband, laughing at
    the fact that I could identify the connection speeds of callers by
    sounds the modems were making (I think, really, who couldn't back then
    <grin>).  From OS/2 and "Back to Binkley" I then went to Linux and
    BBBS/LiI Flag (and no, my husband did not set up linux for me, nor did
    he even run linux until I had been running it for at least 5 years heh.. 
    sorry, this last is in response to some er..  idiots I've run into in my
    life <g>).  

  
    It's how we were back then.. we knew the technical details of our craft. 
    The ins and outs of our hobby..  the ports, the irq's and why you could
    or couldn't put modems on ports 1 and 3 under DOS, and more.  Some of us
    have not quite "lost" all of that know-how under our internet
    connections,but we don't use it very often, that is for sure since now
    we most likely use protocols such as BinkP, and virtual modems to
    collect our mail packets..  we use internet protocols such as telnet to
    log into bbs systems very often, and yet there is still interest in
    using modems as we saw last month, as in "the old days" (see last
    months' article, "DataTerminal").  We'll try to speak to both methods
    and practices and provide tips for both as well in the upcoming issues
    of FidoGazette.  If you have questions you'd like us to answer, we're
    going to start a Q&A column, called Dr.Debug.  Send your questions to
    Dr.Debug @ filegate.net and you'll get a reply right here in the next
    edition plus a personal answer in email if you'd like (or not, up to you
    <grin>).  


    Not only is there a renewed interest of our "ancient history" regarding
    modems and the like, but as internet service providers become more
    resistant to the idea of hobbiests running servers, we may actually find
    ourselves going BACK to telephone lines, calling plans and modems.  See
    Richard's article in this issue regarding an emergency backup plan in
    case of internet failure... and this idea may also be of interest in the
    case of another sysop I heard from this week, as his ISP informed him
    that he was violating the NEWLY changed term of service by running
    servers of any type! Hence my article, "Is it Time?"


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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009

    New Members
    -------------------------------
    By Janis Kracht


    New SysOps  -- Welcome to FidoNet!


    R18: John Merritt

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

    Returning SysOps --  Welcome back!!

    (Soon!) Robert LaPrise
    
    ================================

    In the works!


    R18: Chandler Scotland Bailey

    R12: Dimitrios Papadopoulos
    
    NA: Chadwick E. Labno
    

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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
    


                           The Old School Toolbox
                         By RIchard Webb, 1:116/901


     Occasionally  in  this  space I'll take a look at some bit of software
     or techniques that have been around since the days of fidonet when pots
     was the only way, and our systems were buzzing with activity. Some of
     us still use these tools. Some use nothing but plain old telephone
     modems and older tools on our systems. Others have done the hybrid
     approach, quite a bit of new stuff along with some older tools.  Some
     newer folks might not even be aware of some of these old tools and
     techniques, however, and if you resemble that remark, then this column
     is for you.


     So, before we delve into one of these tools from the days when the bbs
     was a major player in the online world let me remind those of you out
     there who use tools from this era that I do not that your contributions
     to this endeavor are also welcome. I'm certain our editor would welcome
     them.  Some may not fit with my system, and hence I cannot accurately
     or adequately describe them or tell the newcomers about them.


                                 Bots!

     This topic covers enough ground that I'll give the relative newcomer a
     brief overview of some fidonet automation and the tools we use to
     accomplish it in two installments.


     These  days  when  we think of "bots" we're likely to think of zombied
     computers working at the behest of spammers and other nogoodniks on the
     internet, but bots have been around since the earliest days of
     telecommunication via computer.  After all, they're just simple
     automation.


     Fidonet has thrived on bots since its very early days. Soon after Jeff
     Rush developed echomail an enterprising sysop developed autoecho, a
     forerunner of today's areafix and raid. THIs and of course the file
     request we've all come to know and appreciate were the first forms of
     automation over and above Tom JEnnings and his automated mail transfers
     in the middle of the night.


     Just about every sysop in fidonet is familiar with  areafix,  I  hope. 
     But, for the uninitiated it goes like this. AReafix is a way for a
     system operator to request linkage to echomail conferences he/she
     wishes to carry on the system. THe sysop sends a message to areafix at
     his/her uplink's address with a password on the subject line.  IN the
     body of the message the area tags desired are placed, one per line. If
     she wishes to sever a link with a conference the relevant area tag is
     preceded by a dash.


     Autoecho  evolved  rather  quickly  into  the  standard areafix we all
     appreciate today. Fastecho and some other echomail processors bundled
     areafix functionality. THose of us who are squish users had to look to
     third parties for this. Back in the middle 1990's when I ran a busy
     system I used one, but its functionality was quite limited and I still
     had to intervene manually if a downlink desired an area not currently
     carried on my system. THe software I use now for this came along after
     I'd left fidonet. WHile i was setting it up I asked myself hundreds of
     times why this guy didn't release it sooner so I could have its
     features when I really needed them <grin>.


     Along with areafix is its sister program for linking and unlinking  of
     file echoes known as raid.  Allfix and other popular file echo
     processors come with built-in raid functionality.


     Bots that respond to mail from users and other sysops can do more than
     just link and unlink echo and file areas. Some rather powerful tools
     have been developed over the last quarter of a century which enable
     just about any sysop to add some powerful email and netmail response
     tools to his arsenal.


     Those  entries  in your nodelist which fly the ping flag are no doubt
     using some sort of netmail autoresponse feature to provide the
     functionality required which is detailed in the comments at the end of
     your weekly nodelist. Try a few of them out, see what you get back. BY
     looking at those usually hidden control lines you'll find some software
     packages in use for such purposes.



    (Page 4)
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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009

    The Old School Tool Box, Con't...


     As a user of binkleyterm squish and Maximus I naturally gave netmgr by
     Gerard van Essen a try and liked it. LIke his reader/editor TimEd, and
     squish and binkleyterm it was configured using regular ascii files.  I
     have a real aversion to menu driven configuration of software. I use
     synthesized speech to read the screen as I'm a blind man, and it seems
     that I never can get the screen reader to give me the right amount of
     feedback. EIther it's too verbose, or too terse. I spend time tweaking
     the screen reader to track the menus, then I've got to exit the darn
     menu driven configuration program to refer to the docs, etc.  Easier
     for me to just open the configuration file in an ascii editor, with the
     docs open in the editor in another window. Toggle back and forth
     between them, and happily edit away until I'm ready to give it a test
     drive.


     There are other netmail trackers and managers  out  there  since,  and
     many offer similar features. NEtmgr not your cup of tea to configure? 
     Just ask around. Sysops who use other tools for this purpose can point
     you to them and tell you more about them.  


     Back  in  my busy hubbing days I used netmgr to readdress mail from my
     point address, showing any netmail I sent as being from my main
     address, and not from my point.  I was told that it might be
     unreliable, but I pointed netmgr at my comments to the sysop area and
     had it move all new messages placed there to an echo area which was
     available to me from my point address as well as to my co-sysop from
     his point.


     Other than that netmgr did a few simple things for me at the time, such
     as bounce messages back to my downlinks if the destination address
     couldn't be found in the nodelist, etc.  YEs I registered it back in
     the day.  


     How  I  use  it  today:  Netmgr  still addresses mail from my point or
     certain others to show that the mail came from 1:116/901.0 instead of a
     point address, if that mail is bound for a uucp type gateway. I use
     netmgr to help me and other ham radio operators who work with cruisers
     on the high seas.  Our radio network operates a service called
     shiptrak. A skipper at sea can either use his satellite or radio
     internet connection to enter his current position, course, speed and
     some weather data, or we enter it for him. the U.s.  National oceanic
     and atmospheric administration, (commonly known as the national weather
     service) uses the data they provide to forecast more accurately for
     vessels at sea. The cruisers also can provide a url to family and
     friends back on solid ground that can be used to assure the landlubbers
     of their safety.


     Those  of  us  who  work  with the net like to have a good overview of
     who's where out there, both commercial vessels and these cruisers.
     OFten if somebody's in trouble and needing assistance if there's a
     vessel close by we can speed that assistance to them without having to
     send out the big guns, such as the U.s. coast guard. IF the coast guard
     responds we taxpayers get to pay a bill which is close to $200,000 for
     that one rescue, and those cg units aren't available to somebody else
     in trouble.  In fact, just the other day while working with the coast
     guard to assist a man and his wife crossing from AFrica i caused a
     supertanker to divert to their location to drop them a 55 gallon drum
     of #2 diesel. They'd been dismasted in a storm and now had no
     propulsion except for the engines, and only about 6 hours fuel aboard.


     My little email bot can get the radio ops this information before they
     begom a tour of duty on the radio, allowing the radio op to have the
     data printed off right in front of him/her instead of requiring the
     great web hunt.  THe radio op desiring the information address infoserv
     at my fidonet address via my favorite gateway, and places "boat list"
     in the subject line minus the quote symbols.  WHEn my system next
     processes mail from my uplink his request is seen, processed and a
     response sent on its way.  But, before I can provide them this
     convenience I have to acquire the data.  Here's how that works.


     When  our  users  enter  data  from  a  vessel on our web site it
     generates emails which go to a couple different places. ONe of those
     places is my system. Once the message is tossed into my message bases
     netmgr picks it up, Netmgr invokes a batch file while shelling out.
     THis batch file processes the file it generated from the contents of
     the message. The header and all extraneous lines are removed, carriage
     returns and linefeeds replaced with spaces, and the ionformation posted
     to three different files. ONe file is all such postings since SUnday at
     1200 UTC. Another is the last two days file, purged twice daily. THe
     third is a master file which can be searched by users via email.


     A  user  can  then  request  via  email or netmail my current (last 48
     hours) file, or search my database for a vessel's radio call sign or a
     word in its name.


     If a user requests the "boat list' he gets the previous 48 hours
     activity file. Also, interested folks can utilize netmail or email to
     request current alerts for missing or overdue vessels that I have on
     file.


     I'm  hoping  to  add  some  general  interest  for fidonet folks to my
     infoserv functions as well, and have just about completed testing on
     the first one. THough of limited interest as most fidonet sysops have a
     nodelist available, I've implemented a nodelist lookup query function.

     
     Want  to  test  it?  Just send a message to nodefinder at this fidonet
     address via routed netmail. IN the subject line place the fidonet
     address you'd like looked up.  THe nodelist will be searched and
     (hopefully if all is working as it should) the information will return
     to you via routed netmail. IN fact, you'll get two messages. THe first
     tells you that your query was received and will be processed soon. THE
     second should contain your desired information.


     I  use  netmgr's  bounce function to return the data on cruisers using
     our shiptrak system during the previous 48 hours to requesters.  The
     missing/overdue/attempt to locate returns are done thanks to a batch
     file invoked by netmgr when such queries are received.  I do the alerts
     from a batch file instead of a bounce, because if there are no active
     alerts at the time the request was received the poor requester would
     get nothing back.  So, the batch file creates the response if it finds
     no file telling the requester that there are no alerts at this time,
     and what time his/her request was processed.



     Next time in this space we'll discuss  those  nice  little  bots  that
     allow sysops and echo moderators to automatically post those rules
     files as messages and do other neat tricks.


    =#=

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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
    


                Backup fidonet Routing Connections, a Possible Plan.
                          By  Richard Webb, 1:116/901


    Last  October  a  major  mail  mover, and the editor of this fledgling
    publication experienced an internet outage that could have been
    protracted to the better part of a week had things not have fallen into
    place. She and I hatched a quick backup plan which would keep her
    connected to at least one of the other major mail movers with one
    intervening step.


    This caused me to do some thinking about the issue.  As  some  of  you
    know I'm very much involved in emergency communications via amateur
    radio, etc. because of this, I'm always thinking about battery power
    backups for radio gear, and of course computers. Many of us already have
    UPS backup for our machines. But, what provisions are we making to back
    up critical links in the distribution of echomail and routed netmail?


    Stuff happens, and an outage affecting a large isp  could  conceivably
    isolate a net or region. Meanwhile we have fidonet systems out here
    using pots effectively. We also have some major mail movers which are
    not pots capable at the present time.  


    In the  case of the outage Janis experienced last fall we quickly got
    her connected with everything on the z1 backbone that I carry, and
    additional echoes I don't requested via my uplink. My uplink connects
    directly with Eastern STar, which would have reestablished that linkage
    for her.


    I proposed  shortly  after  this in z1_sysop that folks who are still
    pots capable do a bit of organizing among themselves to be able to step
    into the void to keep echomail and routed netmail moving to fill in gaps
    in coverage when they occur.  I've received some positive feedback from
    a couple of pots capable systems. HOwever, we all seem to connect the
    same places, and nobody who has responded has connections with the
    western part of z1. There are also some rc's and other midlevel mail
    movers who show pots capability in their nodelists


    At first blush this is going to entail some expense om somebody's part
    to implement such a backup. However, there are some of us with those
    flat rate calling plans, etc. that can be deployed to keep the mail
    moving. I would propose that we not promise to keep file echoes
    distributing large files moving, they can usually hold all traffic until
    regular internet links are restored. But, there is no reason that some
    of us who have such advantageous plans couldn't put our systems to work
    as the carriers between systems that would need temporary connections
    but would be placed at a severe disadvantage by being forced to place
    the calls.


    Devising such a backup plan would not require a whole  lot  of  effort
    once things were in motion.  Some mechanisms would be in place to assist
    those who had need to utilize it, as well as keep data and information
    current.  An administrator would keep data on systems willing to route
    mail for others who have pots connections, as well as those who would be
    willing to undertake the job of actually transporting the mail.



    Those willing to act as carriers (those of us  with  the  advantageous
    calling plans) would establish session and packet passwords with hubs
    and others we could realistically be expected to serve. For example, I
    probably wouldn't be willing to serve moving mail outside the
    continental U.S> as the cost would soon become prohibitive.  I paid
    almost $4 for a one minute call to Toronto by the time I paid all the
    taxes that accrued thanks to that 60 seconds on the telephone.  I could,
    however easily interface with rc14. I have regular connections with z1c;
    rc19, and one hop away from rc18.


    Such backup plans would need to take into account where  the  impacted
    system derived its feed, and which systems the impacted node feeds. THis
    would take a bit of planning to iron out, but such planning could be
    made available if an administrator kept track of systems in a
    cooperative of those willing to step into the void to help.  FOr the
    sake of calling it something in this article let's call it the fidonet
    classic cooperative.


    Two  echomail conferences would be established. One which  would  be  a
    regularly available backbone echo would be for systems wishing to ask
    questions or help others establish a modem feed.  


    Under normal circumstances all an administrator would need  to  do  is
    maintain some records of capabilities of systems whose sysops expressed
    a willingness to be part of such a cooperative effort. Occasionally the
    administrator might want to query such systems to see if their status
    had changed.


    The cooperative could also be useful in assisting those systems  which
    wish to connect with fidonet but may not have internet means such as
    binkd or transex to move mail.  


    Such backup links would of course provide administrative  file  echoes
    to any downlinks served on a temporary or permanent basis as a minimum
    level of service.  I'd be interested in hearing from anybody with an
    interest in this topic.  I can of course be reached at my fidonet
    address, and routing is quite reliable. I can also be reached at
    elspider@bellsouth.net. IF using bellsouth please send plaintext only.


    Two echomail conferences would be created.


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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009

                           Is It Time?
                        By Janis Kracht, 1:261/38

    All this discussion of modems and dataterminals, back-up plans etc. may
    seem unnecesary to you.  Your internet provider may allow you
    unrestricted use of servers on any port you choose.. or if they never
    check the various ports used by their clientele.. but alas it is not so
    for many of us.  For those who can't run "servers", but would like to
    continue pulling in mail, perhaps pulling modems out of storage is an
    answer?


    Over here in Windsor NY, we are charged a commericial rate by our phone
    company, TDS Telecom, and are forced to purchase a business phone line
    and pay business phone line rates for normal phone calls to get DSL
    service (and it stinks at that!!). Many people have heard me bemoan the
    fact of the slow speeds we get here for a line that is supposed to be a
    3-Meg line.  But that is the only choice we have.. pay a $239.00 fee
    (and that is reduced from the original $400.00 they charged us for the
    first 3 years) for this business line/DSL and oh boy... we get 5 whole
    IP addresses, and we can run servers...so they can't scream at us if Ron
    tests out his software by running web pages, ftp servers or if I run
    BinkP servers, web servers, etc. for filegate.net.



    The Cable company in the area essentially told us to get lost about 3
    years ago when they realized how much traffic was going through the
    filegate and the message echos.  They didn't like it one bit.. I was
    paying them _$500.00_ a month for the privilege of wasting their
    bandwidth, and even _then_ it wasn't enough to keep them happy.. they
    still told us (rather abrubtly I might add) that they were not going to
    deal with "commercial customers any longer" and all ports were being
    "closed down"...i.e... no servers. This cable company obviously liked my
    $500.00 a month long enough to afford better advertising on local
    Television .. we noticed that a few months into our contract with them
    ..  hmm....



    So here we are with TDS.  We could rent space on a large server
    somewhere.. but hey, we're talking about a hobby, right?  This is
    fidonet!  You know.. A bbs system somewhere in the house, probably in
    the backroom, or in the bedroom or in the basement <laugh>.. or that's
    how it USED to be, at least :)


    
    Then I get an email from one of my friends in Kentucky.. _His_ ISP just
    contacted him and said he is in violation of his service agreement..  he
    is not allowed to run servers any longer (oh yes, they can change that
    agreement at any time and they have). Did I have any suggestions?

    
    (sigh)
    
    Run Binkley in Client mode of course.. first plan.. That is not a
    server.  If your bbs has a web daemon, don't put it up.. man, is THAT
    sad.  

    
    If it were me, and I'd paid good money for software like I have for BBBS
    which comes with a web server and I couldn't use it, I'd be more than
    upset.  Alternate ports are a possiblilty but one can't take that kind
    of risk since ISPs no doubt will be checking all ports if they are going
    to be that ridiculous about service agreements.


    Outside of the above, a good calling plan is all I can suggest at this
    point or at least get a phone line and modem and let someone else
    deliver your mail and files to you.  It's an added expense of about
    $30-$40 per month minimum just for the phone line, but at least you'd
    get mail and files in.  I've got a calling plan here, and I can call
    anyone who's got a phone line and decent modem connected.. I don't mind
    delivering mail to your system since I already pay for the plan.  My
    plan lets me call LD unrestricted so it doesn't matter where you live in
    the US.  Just netmail me at 1:261/38, or email me at janis @
    filegate.net if you need a feed..  no problem hooking you in if you are
    in the lower 48 of the U.S.A.  At this point I don't have a plan that
    covers the rest of Zone 1 outside the continental US, but if necessary
    I'm sure we can work things out with our friends up north or I can
    always investigate other calling plans if the need is there.  So..
    beware.  We're hoping your ISP doesn't get stingy with ports and such..
    but if it hits, know your options! and don't throw those modems away,
    that's for sure.


       

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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009


    Linux Tips:
    by Janis Kracht, 1:261/38
    
    Check the Spelling of a Word in the shell or under XWindows
    
    Type the LOOK command with the word you want to check:
    
     bbs@filegate $  look stuff
     stuff
     stuffed
     stuffender
     stuffer
     stuffgownsman
     stuffily
     stuffiness
     stuffing
     stuffy                                          


     It helps to have a large "linuxwords" dictionary.  You can download a
     much bigger dictionary from here:
    
    http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/linuxwords.1.tar.gz?download
                         
     Note: vim users can setup the .vimrc file with the following. Now when you 
     type  CTL-X CTL-T in insert mode, you'll get a thesaurus lookup.

     set dictionary+=/usr/share/dict/words
     set thesaurus+=/usr/share/dict/words
     
     Or, you can call aspell with the F6 command after putting the following
     in your .vimrc file
          
        :nmap <F6> :w<CR>:!aspell -e -c %<CR>:e<CR>
                     
     Now, hit F6 when you're in vim, and you'll get a spell checker.
                          
     There is also an XWindows dictionary that runs with the following
     command...
                       
     $ gnome-dictionary
     
     ...which results in a pop-up window. It prompts you for the word you'd
     like to check, as below:
     
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Grief_
     Grief \Grief\ (gr[=e]f), n. [OE. grief, gref, OF. grief, gref,
      F. grief, L. gravis heavy; akin to Gr. bary`s, Skr. guru,
         Goth. ka['u]rus. Cf. {Barometer}, {Grave}, a., {Grieve},
            {Gooroo.}]
         1. Pain of mind on account of something in the past;
            mental suffering arising from any cause, as misfortune, loss of
            friends, misconduct of one's self or others, etc.; sorrow; 
            [1913 Webster]
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
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    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
    
    
    
    -=-=-=-=-=-
    F  O  O  D      Even sysops have to eat!
    -=-=-=-=-=-
    
    A review of the Fisher-Paykel two-Drawer Dishwasher

    The first thing you notice about this dishwasher is how quiet     it
    is.. extremely quiet!.. Forget about hearing the dishwasher drowning out
    TV after dinner, or whatever.. no more with this one.. <grin>

    
    I purchased this dishwasher at one of our quality appliance stores in
    Binghamton NY.  Generally, you expect they will have quality merchandise
    at this shop.  I was impressed by the two-drawer system, by the way
    every piece of the thing comes out like a child's snap-together toy..
    easy to repair, easy to clean.. looked like there was plenty of room in
    each "drawer" for a full load of dishes, etc.


    Well there is.. sort of.
    
    Because the drawers don't have a top sprayer and water comes from the
    bottom only, dinnerware, pots and cups and glasses must be placed in it
    correctly perhaps more so that with a normal dishwasher.  They won't
    come clean otherwise.  If you stack things properly, i.e., give things
    plenty of space, and use the highest wash cycle things will come out
    spotless everytime. You think you don't have quite as much room with
    this dishwasher sometimes, and then you remember, oh, there's another
    drawer..  It surprises you sometimes.



    Cups and glasses are a problem though if you large glasses (for example
    16oz. size). They are too tall for the Glass rack and must go on the
    bottom rack even if they are plastic.  Smaller cups seem to fit well on
    the cup rack.  The biggest problem though is how the racks fit on the
    unit side walls.  The dishwasher has 8 thin-ish flat plates in sets of
    two on each side, 4 to each drawer for glassware.  These are attached to
    the walls of the dishwasher with plastic tabs which allow them to swivel
    flat when not in use.  Handy for fitting pots in the unit for cleaning
    when necessary..  awkward when the tab breaks as it did the third time
    or so that I used the machine.. so now the top rack's cup rack on the
    right side is held level to the second cup rack with a plastic baggie's
    twist-tie .. which is necessary because if it is not level, the cups
    won't stay ON the rack, they will fall off the rack, there is nothing to
    hold them on it..  Replacing the rack won't do any good, because it's
    not the rack that is broken, it's the piece of plastic that is built
    into the wall of the dishwasher :(


    Other Good points : The silverware DOES come out very clean no  matter
    how much you overfill the silerware tray.. well one must these things,
    afterall :) Additionally, the unit uses so little dishwasher soap it's
    incredible..  about two tablespoons.. that is just weird :)

     
    All in all I give this dishwasher 3 1/2 stars out of 5 because I've
    owned 5 star dishwashers that were _much_ better than this one and they
    cost _much_ less than this one.  However this one is somewhat nice.  It
    is very quiet.. it does work very well if the dishes are scraped really
    well _and_ it is loaded properly.  You must treat it gently because it
    is made of cheap plastic - those tabs on the cup racks are pathetic -
    You can't fit large items in it - no large glasses, such as 16 oz. or
    larger, or large cookie racks or overly large pans, etc.- and I would
    not trust any antique china in it or crystal items in it either.  I did
    foolishly try some antique coffee cups in it _once_.  Never again.. one
    time off the rack.. ouch :( But it's quiet!  and it's extremely energy
    effecient compared to any other dishwasher I've every had.. and uses so
    little water, it's amazing. So I guess we're pretty happy all in all :)

    
    (Page 9)
 
    =#=
    =======================================================================
     
     
    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009    
    
                                 
              =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=                   
              !!!        G A Z E T T E   B B S   L I S T        !!!
              =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


              System.......<<Prism BBS
              FidoAddress..1:261/38
              Phone........607-655-5652
              Software.....BBBS LiI Flag
              OS...........Linux (Gentoo)
              C/B Verify...None
              Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, 
                           and file areas.            
              Telnet.......filegate.net
                           telnet access offers full features 
                           of the standard bbs such as doors,
                           qwkmail, BWmail,Files, etc.                     
              www:.........http:/www.filegate.net:8080/bbbs
                           [web interface is limited really 
                           to reading messages and replying 
                           online, or downloading messages  
                           in qwk packets, but not uploading
                           them], and file download access. 
              =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
              
              System.......Time Warp of the Future BBS
              FidoAddress..1:14/400
              Phone........none
              Software.....sbbs 3.15a (very beta)
              OS...........win. (xp pro. sp3)
              C/B Verify...None
              Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas.
              Telnet.......time.synchro.net:24 or time.darktech.org:24
                           or timewarpfuture.dyndns.org:24
                           telnet access offers full features
                           of the standard bbs such as doors,
                           messages or file area etc.
               www:........http://time.synchro.net:81
                           Web interface is limited really
                           to reading messages and replying online, or 
                           downloading messages in qwk packets, but not 
                           uploading them, and file download access.  
            =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


              System.......Lionsden BBS
              FidoAddress..1:224/303
              Phone........613-392-8896
              Software.....Sunchronet
              OS...........Windows XP
              C/B Verify...None
              Access.......First Call access to Msg bases, and file areas.
              Telnet.......lionsden.darktech.org
               telnet access offers full features
               of the standard bbs such as doors,
               qwkmail, Files, etc.
              www:.........http:/www.lionsden.darktech.org
               You will redirected to a menu where you can choose
               one of three sites.  The first one is private and
               requires PW to get into.
              FTP..........FTP://lionsden.darktech.org  Files only

              
                                        

    =#=
    
    (Page 10)
    =======================================================================
 
    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
                                 


    Dr. Debug Answers Your Questions
    ================================
    "How do I get an echo on the fidonet BACKBONE???"
    
     It just takes a few steps.  The first step can be done via netmail or
     email:
         
    1 - you send the listkeeper a notice of your echo like this:

    
       To:  Echolist   @1:1/21      Or by email to echolist@fidonet.us
       Subj: MOD UPD
       ===============                
       FROM: janis@filegate.net
       TAG   FUNTIMES
       TITLe  FunTimes, my new Internatinal Echo
       MOD  Janis Kracht, 1:261/38, janis@filegate.net
       Mod  MyBuddy
       DESC fun times every day
       DESC every every day.
       DESC I think you get the drift.
       DESC Are we having fun yet??
       DESC I think so :)
       VOLume 5/month
       RESTrictions /REAL
       ORIGin 1:261/38
       PASSword you-pick-it-and-please-don't-forget-it!
    
        
     *The first line, FROM: emailaddress is only necessary if you are
     sending this VIA EMAIL, so if you send it via netmail, you don't need
     that.

     
    You don't need the whole word for each word above, just the capitalized
    ones, like VOL instead of VOLume at the start of the line.  If you are
    sending this via email, don't forget to put your email address in the
    MOD line and _also_ at the top of the message above the TITle line.

    
    Ok, that's the first step. Don't lose this, you will use it again, see
    much later.*

    
    2 - now you will get a reply from the list keeper's Robot either in
    email or in your fidonet netmail folder depending on how you sent your
    echomail request.  When you get the response, it will look something
    like this:

    
    
    =============================================
    To: janis@filegate.net
    
    Message Received, Echo Added
    
    FunTimes
    
    FunTimes, my new Internatinal Echo
    
    fun times every day every every day.
    I think you get the drift.  Are we having fun yet??
    I think so :)
    
    Origin: 1:261/38
    Moderators: Janis Kracht
                My buddy
                    
    ======================


  
     So far so good.  you are on your way.  Your echo is NOW on the
     international ECHOLIST.  Congratulations.  But it is NOT on the
     BACKBONE yet.  We'll take care of that in a moment.  

  
  
    3 - You take this message and you post a copy of it the Z1_BACKBONE
    echo, and address it to BACKBONE, and in the body at the top, just say,
    Please add, like so:




          ========================================================     
          To: BACKBONE
          From (you)
    
          Please Add
    
    
           =============================================
           From: Echolist
           To: janis@filegate.net
         
           Message Received, Echo Added
             
           FunTimes
                  
           FunTimes, my new Internatinal Echo
                   
           fun times every day every every day. I think
           you get the drift.  Are we having fun yet ??
           I think so :)
           
           Origin: 1:261/38
           Moderators: Janis Kracht, 1:261/38, janis@filegate.net
                       My buddy, someplace@somewhere.com
                                       
          ========================================================

    The moderator of the Z1_BACKBONE echo will ACK your message (let you
    know it was received).
                                                            
    4 - The following Sunday your echo TAG name will appear on Backbone.na.
    The world will see it and add it to their systems.  *Now in about 6
    months you will have to let the Echolist keeper know your echo is still
    alive.  You will only need to repeat step one, send in your echo record
    to the echolist robot (no need to post in the backbone echo).  You will
    get a warning from the echolist robot if you forget to update your echo
    but it's always better to be safe and get your echo updated in a timely
    fashion.  If you don't get your update in to the echolist keeper, and
    your record expires, another sysop could technically list your echo as
    the "moderator of record". For this reason, a lot of sysops automate the
    renewal of their echo updates.  

    Regards,
    Doc
    
    =#=   

    (Page 11)
    ========================================================================


    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009


    T  h  e     B  B  S     G A M E    C  O  R  N  E  R
    ========================================================================


    By Janis Kracht                        [10][ ][ ][1]      [2]
                                                     [3][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
         B  B  S   C  R  O S S W O R D         [4][ ][ ]      [ ]       [5]
                                                     [ ]      [ ]       [ ] 
                               [7][ ][8]      [9]    [ ]      [ ]       [ ]  
         [6]                        [12][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]           [ ]
         [ ]    [11]                [  ]      [ ]   [ ] 
     [13][ ][  ][  ][  ][14][  ][  ][  ]      [ ]      
                [  ]    [ ]     [16][  ][  ][ ]     
          [15]  [  ]    [ ]         [  ]            
          [ ]           [ ]         [  ]
      [17][ ][ ]        [ ]     [18][  ][ ][ ][ ]     
          [ ]           [ ]         [  ]
      [19][ ][ ][ ][ ][][ ][ ]
          [ ]         20[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]21
                                       [ ] 
                                       [ ]
                                       [ ]
                                       [ ]
                                       [ ]
     ACROSS                         
     3  Clone
     4  Ancient archiver
     7  Archiver developed by Phil Katz
     12 Tags are listed here
     13 Homrighausen's joy
     16 Wynn Wagner made it famous
     17 Different outbounds for each zone
     18 Programmer's editor for DOS and OS/2
     19 Barebones Mailer
     20 Scott's Corp.

     DOWN
     1 not *.MSG 
     2 Can use T-Mail style filebox or inbound-outbound dirs 
     5 Standard Request Information File, i.e.
     6 Didn't make it Zone 1 much
     8 Auxiliary device
     9 Socket for connector
     11 Uses extended codes found in IBM code page 437
     14 Early multi-tasker
     15 Standard interface to talk to serial port hardware
     21 Bits of a byte over one wire           
                                

     This is easy, but see page 14 for solution :)
             
    (Page 12)
    =========================================================================

    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009
                                 

    INFO:
    Where to Send Your Articles

    Unlike most editors, I surely do not  mind running my mouth when
    there is a sparcity of articles for the 'zine.  I'd MUCH rather
    you sent in material but I think until someone starts a
    discussion you feel like commenting about, you evil dullards
    (just kidding!!!) will no doubt complain about "no issues"
    <grin> So I will fill these issues with my meanderings and
    thoughts and hopefully we will grow into something of
    consequence here :) Don't be offended.. write an article!


    If you WOULD like to submit an article and prove me wrong about
    the dullard aspect of you guys and gals <bg>, feel free to drop
    your article off at:

    By email attach to address: janis@filegate.net
    Fidonet attach: Janis Kracht 1:261/38 Modem: 607-655-5652
                   1:261/100 filegate.net via telnet mailer
                   filegate.net via binkp mailer (don't send 
                   articles as routed attaches, send them
                   direct to filegate.net).

    Give it a title, sign your name and network address if you have one and 
    send it along!


    Don't worry about the format, I can take anything you send me
    and mutilate it further as you can see above.  Linux is nice
    that way <g>.  Spell checking your own work will help though
    (something I'm typically guilty of <g>).

    More specifics with this issue :)

    To send a question to Dr. Debug, email a question to dr.debug@filegate.net
    or post in the fidogazette echo! :)

    To send a listing to the fidogazette internet bbs list, send your bbs
    listing to bbslist@filegate.net or post it in the fidogazette echo! :)

    (Page 13)

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

    T h e   F i d o G a z e t t e!    Volume III number II    April    2009


 
     BBS Crossword Solution


                                    1  2
                               10DIMA  B
                                    RADIUS
                                 4ARC  N  S5
                       6            M  K  R
                        R    ZIP  P A  D  I
                        A A    ECHOLIST   F
                     13FRONTDOOR  R L  
                          S E  I  T
                     15 F I S OPUS
                        O   Q  H
                    17 BSO  V  E
                        S   I BRIEF
                    19 BINKLEY A     21
                        L   W  LANIUS  
                                    E 
                                    R
                                    I
                                    A
                                    L





			
 





    (Page 14)

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