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º July 1995 Volume 3 Number 7 º
ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ
º Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida (813) 862-4772 º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
In This Issue
-------------
þ Baccarat - The Most Mis-Understood of Casino Games Comes to the PC
þ ONE BBSCON '95 Coverage
þ 1995 PCBoard Communications Retreat Update
þ CD-ROMs - by Alex Thomas
þ Humor, reviews, the latest news and more
+ + + + +
Editor's Welcome
----------------
I really did not notice it until I started putting it together, but this is
one of the largest issues yet of the Pasco BBS Magazine. PBM just keeps on
cranking!
This month's feature article came out of the recent release of a great
baccarat program for the PC. This very mis-understood casino game does not
get very much exposure, so why not give it some here? This month continues
our comprehensive coverage of ONE BBSCON '95 and there are updates on the
Dvorak Awards and the lack of a BBS contest for this year's convention. There
is also information on the PCBoard Communications Retreat scheduled to take
place in Utah this September. One article is the press release announcing the
formation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation five years ago. The EFF has
done much to protect our on-line freedoms and I hope you enjoy looking back to
the basic concepts that got the ball rolling.
I want to thank Matt Murrell for sending in what will be the first in a series
of Shareware reviews. This month also features an article on CD-ROMs by Alex
Thomas, and I want to thank him as well. Look for all of our regular features
including PBM Flashback, which will take a look back at the days of "The Best
of CyberScape LIVE!"
I am really excited about next month's Special ONE BBSCON '95 Commemorative
Issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine. For now, I'll get started on that, while you
(hopefully) enjoy this month's issue.
+ + + + +
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ PASCO BBS MAGAZINE ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
³ EDITOR: Richard Ziegler ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
³ HOME BBS: Board of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772 ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
³ File request current issue under magic file name PBM. ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
+ + + + +
Baccarat, The Most Mis-Understood of Casino Games, Comes to the PC
------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have been to Las Vegas you have no doubt walked by the baccarat tables
and, perhaps, taken one look at the layout on the table and thought to
yourself that it looked pretty complicated. That mystique is reenforced by
the casinos having the baccarat tables in a secluded roped off section of the
casino with tuxedo clad coupdeaires handling the action. The reality is that
baccarat is the easiest of the casino table games to learn.
It is generally accepted that the card game of baccarat dates back to 15th
Century France, but some will argue that it is just a spin-off of blackjack
dating back to the mid 1800's. It is thought that the game began during the
reign of Charles VIII who was king of France from 1483 until his death in
1498. Charles VIII was a typical tyrant King who imprisoned his eventual
successor, Louis XII, for rebellious behavior. "Charles the Affable" invaded
Italy in 1494, occupied Naples in 1495, and was part of the Valois Dynasty
which reigned during The Hundred Years' War. Considering the times, maybe a
diversion like baccarat was needed.
To this day, Baccarat remains the principal gambling card game of France and
several other European countries, but the French also play a variation of the
game called Baccara-en-Banque. Baccarat is known as Punto Banco in England
and some other counties. In recent years, the original game of baccarat has
been all but replaced by a speeded-up version, baccarat chemin-de-fer, usually
called just chemin-de-fer. The game played in American casinos actually came
from Cuban casinos in the early 1950's.
Just like the popular card games of blackjack and twenty-one, the differences
between baccarat and chemin-de-fer are relatively minor. In twenty-one the
house always controls the deal of the cards and the bank, but in blackjack the
dealing duties and the responsibility for covering the bets are passed when a
player is dealt a two card natural twenty-one. In chemin-de-fer every player
has a chance to be the banker and may take over the bank by saying "Banco."
In chemin-de-fer the gamble is limited by the amount the bank is willing to
lose and the banker is never liable for the payment in excess of his bank. In
the casino version of baccarat, the banker does not lose the bank when he
loses a coup. The casino remains the banker, so there is technically no limit
and players can play against the casino's entire bankroll.
Chemin-de-fer can typically have ten or more players and almost any number can
play. Each player is dealt an individual hand, but in the casino version of
baccarat, only two hands are dealt, Player and Banker. The shoe does pass
from player to player in the casino variation but, as noted early, the casino
assumes the permanent responsibility for the bank. In the less formal game of
chemin-de-fer the banker plays the Bank's hand and the players play their own
hands, but in the casino game the player can select the Bank or Player bet and
switch back and forth from bet to bet. Another difference in chemin-de-fer is
if a player has a total of five he must decide to ask for a third card, but in
the casinos the player must draw a card.
For all its mystique, baccarat remains a game anyone can play. There are only
two decisions that have to be made: 1) How much to bet, 2) Which side to bet
on. Typically eight decks of cards are shuffled together and dealt from a box
called a shoe. In front of each player at the table there is a location where
they place their bets. A player can bet on either the Banker, Player or bet
on a tie. After the bets are placed, the dealer will deal out two hands. One
is called the Player's hand, the other is called the Banker's hand. We will
discuss the rules of baccarat, but you do not have any decisions to make.
Four cards are dealt face up on the table, two cards for the Player's hand and
two for the Banker's hand. The cards retain their face value with aces having
a value of one and 10's, and face cards, having a value of 0. If the cards
total over ten, the first digit is dropped and only the last digit is used for
game play. The object is to get a card count of 9, or as close to 9 as
possible. If either the Player or the Banker has a total of 8 or 9 on those
first two cards, the hand is over. An 8 or 9 on the initial deal is called a
natural and no third cards are dealt. A 9 beats an 8 and ties are a push,
neither side wins.
If there are no naturals dealt in the first two cards, then additional cards
are dealt. The Player is the first to draw a card and must take a third card
if their first two cards have a total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. If the Player
has a total of 6 or 7 they cannot draw another card. The following chart
summarizes the rules for the Player's hand.
If the first two cards total: 0-1-2-3-4-5 - Draws a card
6-7 - Stands
8-9 - Stands (Natural)
The rules for the Banker are bit more complicated and are regulated by the
third card drawn by the player. The following chart summarizes the rules for
the Banker's hand.
Draws when Does not draw when
player takes card player takes card
First two cards total: 0-1-2 Draws unless player 8-9 8
3 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 0-1-8-9
4 2-3-4-5-6-7 0-1-2-3-8-9
5 4-5-6-7 0-1-2-3-4-5-8-9
6 6-7
7 Stands
8-9 Banker natural
If Player doesn't draw a third card, the Banker draws on 0-1-2-3-4-5 and
stands on 6-7-8-9.
A five percent commission is charged on any winning bets made on the Banker's
hand. Bets on the Banker's hand and Player's hand are paid off at even money,
but since the Bank has a slight edge there is the commission. Ties bets are
paid off at odds of 8 to 1. The house has an edge of 1.35% over the Player
and 1.20% over the Banker. The odds against tie bets is 14.0918%. Overall,
the casino has a 1.27% advantage in the baccarat. The only bet in a casino
with lower odds are the odds bets, commonly called the back line, in craps.
As with roulette you will see people faithfully tracking the results of the
previously played hands. Most casinos are more than happy to provide a
baccarat scorecard, technically called a "Table de Banque," for those players
who wish to keep track of the previous results. Some may make the argument
that, as in blackjack, the previously played cards have some bearing on the
future cards. However, just as in roulette, the prevailing wisdom is that the
previous results have little significance. But, that does not keep players
from writing down the result of every hand in their attempt to identify
streaks. Of course, there are people who have made huge sums of money by
designing systems to beat casino games. Unfortunately, the profit has come to
those writing the books, instead of those buying the books.
If this all sounds confusing, it really is not. In the past, the only way to
learn the game was to plop a few dollars down at the table and see what
happens. It was typically an expensive lesson. Today, with personal
computers commonplace, there is no longer an excuse for not thoroughly
understanding a game before placing any of your hard earned money on the
table. After playing several computer generated baccarat games, you should
quickly get a feel for the true simplicity of the game.
One of the earliest baccarat games for the PC was written in 1986 by Castro
Valley, California resident Raymond M. Buti. It was a text based program with
a registration fee of only $3.00, but it gave a lot of good information about
the game. The screen displays a scorecard for tracking past hands, the
Banker's and Player's current hand, statistics on the current session and an
options box. One of the options is the ability to display a menu of some of
the most popular betting systems for playing the game. Most systems are more
of a money management technique, than a way to beat the game, but some people
will swear by them.
The Martingale system is very well-known, not only for baccarat, but for
virtually any casino game. The basics of Martingale are to start with a
single betting unit and after a loss to double that betting unit, and continue
doubling the bet until you win a hand. The problem with this type of system
is the table limit which could be reached after progressing through a handful
of doubling your bets. D'Alembert is another old system based on the doubling
of bets, so the table limit will eventually catch up with you with that system
too. Thirty-One is another double up system but with a limit of 31 units.
One system called Best Bet, while not guaranteeing that you will walk away a
winner, does make more sense since it involves increasing your bets while you
are winning. It uses a progressive betting pattern of 1, 2, 3, 5, 5 and then
8 betting units that are increased only after a win. Start with a betting
unit of 1 and keep betting that amount until you win a bet. After a winning
bet, jump to the next bet in the series until a bet is lost.
The systems are interesting, and are a very nice touch to Mr. Buti's program,
but no system should be seriously considered as a way to win at the casinos.
In the documentation for his baccarat game he puts it quite well. "Remember
that there aren't any sure fire ways of making money gambling. There are ways
of minimizing your loses or methods that can be used to increase your chances
of winning the maximum amount during your stay at a table or even methods that
allow you to play the best possible bets at any one game. None will guarantee
a winning strategy in the long run. Most all gambling systems work for the
short play in one way or the other. But to sit and use a system for hours on
end will eventually put you in the poor house."
The best application of Baccarat for the PC is Ultimate Baccarat by Accidental
Software of Apple Valley, California. Terry Hastings has written a true
animated, interactive baccarat simulation and the full featured program can be
played with up to three computer generated players. A nice touch are the
comments, and the expressions on the faces, of the animated players. If you
take some time placing your bet, the old man will doze off on you. Accidental
Software pokes fun at itself with their motto "If it's good it's accidental,"
but the reality is that they have an entire line of wonderful Shareware casino
games.
Ultimate Baccarat includes a comprehensive tutor to help players learn the
rules of the game, an option which can be toggled on or off. When using the
tutor a large curtain drops down in the center of the game screen and the
player will be provided with an explanation of the game as it proceeds. Each
step in the game play is explained. There is also a "Baccarat Info" option
which provides general information concerning baccarat, commissions, game
play, payoffs and a table of rules governing card draws. There are options to
display the statistics and results for each player at the table. So, the
program does furnish everything needed to learn this mis-understood casino
game.
The benefits of registering Ultimate Baccarat include the elimination of the
on-screen registration reminders, the ability to save all game information,
to play with up to six human players at one time, Sound Blaster support is
provided and with the optional voice support you can hear digital recordings
of the words seen in the talk balloons. The one complaint with the Shareware
version, but it is a pretty good incentive to pay the $13.00 registration, is
that no sound card support is provided. It would be interesting to hear,
rather than read, the sometimes hilarious comments of the computer players.
Baccarat has always been the casino's class game with an appeal to the high-
rollers. Until recently, the casinos seemed quite satisfied with perpetrating
that intrigue. Black-tie baccarat, with casino personnel in formal attire, is
intimating to many people. In an effort to entice some to try the fastest
game in town, the casinos employ attractive young ladies to sit at the
baccarat tables to get the game started. The casinos call them starters, but
they are more commonly referred to as shills. While this was the predominant
approach in the past, it was not that successful in developing a new
generation of baccarat players. Over the last decade, the casinos have taken
a different approach by placing some mini-baccarat tables on the casino floor.
These tables are slightly larger than a blackjack table and are designed for
seven players instead of the more traditional twelve players. Since mini-
baccarat tables have lower minimum bets, it does give more people exposure to
the "Big Nine Game" of baccarat.
The casino's are at a cross-roads and have no choice but to try to generate
interest in the traditional casino games. It is getting to the point that it
is difficult to distinguish between a major casino and a video arcade. When
the trend is trading in gaming tables for video games and trying to turn Las
Vegas into kiddie land, you have to wonder just how much longer more
traditional casino games like baccarat will be around. The casinos are
concerned and do worry about where the next generation of gamers will come
from. They are even gambling with their traditional base of support by trying
to make an adult playground into a family vacation destination. It may not be
realistic to think that this will be the salvation of the gaming industry, but
only time will tell how long this diametrical approach will survive.
+ + + + +
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ÆØØØØØØØØØØØ Board of Trade BBS ØØØØØØØØØص
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+ + + + +
No BBS Contest for ONE BBSCON '95
---------------------------------
It had been one of the traditional mainstays of the ONE BBSCON. It was also
one of the most well-known and popular aspects of the convention. It
generated plenty of excitement and activity throughout the BBS community. It
could be, arguably, what launched the ONE BBSCON to its current level of
success. It is Boardwatch Magazine's Reader's Choice Top 100 Bulletin Boards
Contest. Boardwatch Magazine editor Jack Rickard confirmed, in the magazine's
June 1995 issue, that there will not be a BBS contest held in connection with
this summer's ONE BBSCON in Tampa.
In the June 1995 "Letters to the Editor" section of Boardwatch Magazine, Jack
Rickard confirmed the rumors. There will be no BBS contest this year. The
reasons he gave in his reply to an inquiry were that "it was expensive for us
- about $30,000, and we received a lot of complaints about the rules (we only
had one) the results (I didn't win) and the process (the other guy is buying
it)." He also indicated that they were very busy publishing the magazine and
putting on the convention, which was part of what lead to the decision not to
run the BBS contest this year.
The Reader's Choice BBS Contest is a ONE BBSCON tradition which has fallen by
the wayside. What's next, doing away with the "How to Run a BBS for Profit"
educational session? Jack Rickard said they "may revive it in 1996, though
probably in a seriously modified form." I hope the contest returns for next
year. It was an excellent way to promote the ONE BBSCON and is in part
responsible for the success that the event has enjoyed.
Editor's Note: The July issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine will be a very
special ONE BBSCON '95 Commemorative Issue. There will be a special ONE
BBSCON '95 file with the most information available anywhere prior to the
actual event itself. The main magazine file will also have a "ONE BBSCON '95
Simulation" which will take a look at how things should come off for the
event. Do not miss next month's exciting issue! For more information on ONE
BBSCON '95 contact ONE, Inc., 4255 South Buckley Road, Suite 308, Aurora, CO
80013, or call (303) 693-5253.
+ + + + +
Announcing the 1995 Dvorak Awards for Excellence in PC Telecommunications
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
John C. Dvorak is an internationally known columnist and author along with
Nick Anis of several best selling book software packages including DVORAK'S
GUIDE TO PC TELECOMMUNICATIONS and DVORAK'S GUIDE TO PC CONNECTIVITY. The
awards are being produced by an independent company, Computer Business
Services which has produced many awards for many different conventions and
organizations, just recently Computer Business Services produced the 1995
InternetWorld Awards.
Mr. Dvorak and Computer Business Services are pleased to present the 4th
Annual Dvorak Telecommunications Awards to the pioneers whose vision and
commitment to telecommunications and BBS conferencing has helped increase
the vibrant, growing marketplace of ideas and information that exists today.
This year the venue is Tampa, Florida at the Online Networking Exposition and
BBS Convention (ONE BBSCON), August 16-20, 1995. The award ceremony and
banquet will take place at the Tampa Convention Center Ballroom C & D (this
location is tentative), 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 19th, 1995.
Join us for lots of fun, excitement, door prizes, fabulous food, and informal
discussion on the future of telecommunications with hosts, John C. Dvorak and
Nick Anis, and recipients of the 1995 Dvorak Telecommunications Awards. Each
year the attendance grows larger. InfoWorld reports the show should have in
excess of 20,000 attendees. We expect the awards banquet to again be sold
out!
1992 Winners Were:
Ward Christensen - Lifetime Achievement for outstanding contributions to PC
telecommunications including the development of the public domain XMODEM file
transfer protocol, the first protocol widely used with personal computers.
Ward Christensen and Randy Seuss - Honored for developing the first electronic
bulletin board system in February 1978.
Tom Jennings - Honored as founder of the International Fido Network.
Chuck Forsberg - For development of the Zmodem file transfer protocol.
Phil Katz - For development of the PKZIP file compression/archive software.
Tom Smith, DataStorm Technologies, Inc. - Procomm for Windows, terminal
communications software package.
John Friell III, Mustang Software, Inc. - Qmodem terminal communications
software package.
The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL) - Best online conferencing system.
Channel 1 BBS - Best general interest BBS.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - For service to the online
community.
Marshall Dudley - For development of the Doorway program used by many bulletin
boards to run third party software programs as doors with their bulletin
board.
Rockwell Design Team - For development of the first single package
v.32/v.32bis modem chipset, currently used in hundreds of different modem
designs.
1993's Winners Were:
Dennis C. Hayes, President, Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. - Lifetime
Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to PC Telecommunications.
Dr. Vinton Cerf, Internet Society - Outstanding International Connectivity.
Motorola Codex - Outstanding Hardware Contribution (V.Fast Technology).
John Markoff, The New York Times - Outstanding Reporting in
Telecommunications.
Microcom, Gregory Pearson and MNP1 Cellular Modem Technology - Outstanding
Software/Firmware Contribution.
Aquila BBS - Outstanding BBS Organization Features and Design.
J. Owen Greeson - Outstanding Ongoing Software Contributions.
DNIS: DataPort Network Information System - Outstanding BBS Gateway to
Multiple Information Services.
TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. - Outstanding Advanced BBS Graphics Standard
for PC Telecommunications.
Tim Stryker, Consensun Systems, Inc. - Outstanding Social/Political
Contribution Online.
CompuServe - Best Overall Commercial Online Information Service.
1994's Winners Were:
Don Watkins, CompuServe Forum - Lifetime Achievement Award.
America Online, Inc. - Best Commercial Online Information System.
Internet Chameleon, NetManage, Inc. - Outstanding Internet Front End.
AT&T Microelectronics - Outstanding PC Telecommunications Technology.
DSC BBS/VoiceNet - Outstanding BBS and BBS Internet Connectivity.
Delphi/Internet - Outstanding Global Connectivity Service.
EMail Connection, ConnectSoft - Outstanding PC Telecommunications EMail
Utility.
ExecNet - Outstanding BBS and BBS File Software Bank.
Exec-PC - Best Overall BBS.
NCSA Mosaic - Outstanding Multimedia Internet Utility.
QmodemPro for Windows, Mustang Software, Inc. - Outstanding PC
Telecommunications Software.
Mercury Center/San Jose Mercury News - Outstanding Newspaper Online Coverage
and Forum.
NewsBytes News Network - Outstanding Online News Service.
PCBoard Programming Language (PPL), Clark Development Company, Inc. -
Outstanding PC Telecommunications Technology.
Planet Connect - Best BBS Product/Service of 1994.
QwikMail I and II Format (QWK/REP), Sparkware/Mark Herring - Outstanding EMail
Standard/Technology.
Time Online/Time Magazine - Outstanding Online Magazine Coverage and Online
Forum.
Each year the awards committee receives nominations for the telecommunications
industry's best. From these nominations a special panel of judges selects the
top ten people, products or companies that significantly contribute to the
advancement of PC telecommunications.
Award Categories for this Year (1995) Include:
1. Personal or Lifetime Personal Achievement (One per year)
2. Best/Outstanding Telephony Combination Product
3. Best/Outstanding Global Connectivity Product
4. Best/Outstanding News Service Published Online
5. Best/Outstanding Online Publications/Books
6. Best/Outstanding Telecommunications UNIX Technology
7. Best/Outstanding Telecommunications Financial Technology
8. Best/Outstanding Telecommunications PCMCIA Technology
9. Best/Outstanding Telecommunications Video Technology
10. Best/Outstanding Independent Bulletin Board System
Categories may be added/modified or deleted as necessary. Write-in categories
will also be considered.
PRIZES: There will be a large assortment of door prizes distributed to
attendees of the awards ceremony from sponsors such as USRobotics, Hayes,
IBM, Microsoft, Corel, Borland and many others. The award recipients will
receive a special trophy personally presented by John C. Dvorak.
PRIZES FOR VOTERS: All valid ballots submitted by voters will be entered in a
random sweepstakes drawing and receive a free issue of Boardwatch Magazine.
PRODUCERS OF THE AWARDS: This year, the awards are being produced by an
independent company, Computer Business Services. For more information please
contact the producer Nick Anis (NickAnis@AOL.COM) or co-producer Gary Neely
(GNeely@IX.NETCOM.COM).
ONE BBSCON: For information on ONE BBSCON call ONE, Inc., 4255 South Buckley
Road, Suite 308, Aurora, CO 80013; (303) 693-5253 Voice, (303) 693-5518 Fax;
or (303) 693-5432 BBS. Or send EMail to: ONEBBSCON@BOARDWATCH.COM.
Editor's Note: The preceding article is from a press release announcing the
1995 Dvorak Awards for Excellence in PC Telecommunications. For more
information contact the parties mentioned at the end of the article. To vote
for this year's winner's look for the file DVORAK95.ZIP on a bulletin board
near you.
+ + + + +
ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸
³ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ³
³ The Most Comprehensive Listing ßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ of Computer Bulletin Board ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ Systems in Pasco, Pinellas ßßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ and Hillsborough Counties ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ÚÄÒÄ¿Ò Â ÖÄÄÄ "Ö¿ Â ÖÄÄÄ Ò Â" ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ³\ÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ³
³ º ÇÄÄ´ ÇÄÄ ºÀ¿³ ÇÄÄ Ó·Ú¿ÚÙ ³ÞÛÛßßÛÛÛݳ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ Ð Ð Á ÓÄÄÄ Ð ÀÙ ÓÄÄÄ ÓÙÀÙ ³ ß ÜÜÛÝ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ÖÄÄ¿ · ÄÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄÄ ³ ßÛÛß ³/ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ³
³ ÇÄÄ´ º Ķ ºÄз ºÄз ÓÄ· ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÛÛÛßßÛÛÛÛݳ
³ ÓÄÄÙ Ó ÄĽ ½ÄĽ ½ÄĽ ÄĽ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ³
³ ÒÄÄ¿ Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄÄ ÖÄÄ¿ ÚÄÒÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ Ò Â ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ³
³ º ³ º ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄÄ º º º ³ ÇÄÂÙ ÓÄÒÄÙ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛݳ
³ ÐÄÄÙ Ð Ð Á ÓÄÄÄ ÓÄÄÙ Ð ÓÄÄÙ Ð Á Ð ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ßÛÛÛß ³
³ ÜÜþ ³
³ CLARK D. GILBO, Editor & Founder ÜÜßßßß ³
³ ³
³ GILBEAU PUBLISHING CO. P.O.BOX 3397, HOLIDAY, FL. (813) 938-6975 voice** ³
³ THE 813 BBS DIRECTORY HOME BOARD IS BOARD OF TRADE BBS, DATA # IS 862-4772³
ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ;
+ + + + +
1995 PCBoard Communications Conference Update
---------------------------------------------
Clark Development Company (CDC), designers of the popular PCBoard BBS
Software, has recently announced some of the details for their 1995 PCBoard
Communications Conference. The conference for PCBoard Sysops will take place
at The Inn at Prospector Square in Park City, Utah, on September 21-24, 1995.
The prices for the conference have been set and CDC is now taking
registrations, which is limited to 400 attendees. Prices for the show have
been set at $199.00 for registrations received by July 31, 1995, $249.00 for
registrations received by August 31, 1995 and $299.00 after that. Attendees
will have two days of intense educational sessions, demonstrations of the
latest enhancements to PCBoard, and the first public showing of their new
client/server, graphical communications software that brings together BBSs and
the Internet.
Included in the registration fee is the following: Admission to the Keynote
dinner, admission to all educational sessions, admission to the vendor
exhibits, an attache style bag to hold notebooks and handouts, an exclusive
collectors PCBoard mock-turtleneck sweatshirt, a PCBoard note-pad and pen,
a PCBoard CD-ROM, admission to the Keynote Dinner on Thursday, breakfast on
Friday, the session break and lunch on Friday, a dinner activity on Friday
(probably a wagon ride and BBQ), breakfast and session break on Saturday, and
lunch on Saturday.
CDC has booked the whole resort, including hotel rooms, studios, and one, two
and three bedroom condos. The daily rates are $55.00 for a hotel room, $63.00
for a studio, $120.00 for a two bedroom condo and $160.00 for a three bedroom
condo. All studios and condos include kitchens. The Inn at Prospector
Square, with 250 units, is the largest facility in Park City. It offers free
shuttle bus service, exercise rooms, a pool, a hot tub and some rooms even
have a fireplace.
Park City sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet and may have remained the domain
of Indians and trappers had it not been for the discovery of a rich silver ore
in October of 1868. The town grew steadily and was incorporated in the late
1880's. Today, with a population of 4,468, Park City is a popular year round
vacation destination with a heavy emphasis on winter sports. Utah's strong
Mormon influence leads to some strange liquor laws including 3.2% beer and
State run liquor stores.
There is much to see and do in the Park City area for those attending the 1995
PCBoard Communications Conference. There are several ways to check out the
local scenery from the air including glider rides. Five different companies
offer daily hot air balloon rides including a "Traditional Champagne
Celebration" after the flight, but non-alcoholic champagne is also available.
There is fly fishing for brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout in spectacular
canyons and mountain streams. Casting instruction is available for those who
are not familiar with fly fishing. Visitors can learn about the early mining
history of the region at the Park City Old Town Museum, explore any one of
sixteen art galleries, or take in a movie at the Sundance Theatre. Guests can
also ride a restored turn of the century steam railroad, take part in jeep and
mountain bike tours, try scuba diving in hot springs, or go white-water
rafting on the Yampa and Green Rivers. Visitors can also take part in golf,
hiking, horseback riding, swimming, tennis and water skiing.
Another diversion for those visiting this part of the Beehive State is a trek
across the wasteland known as the Great Salt Lake Desert. This trip takes you
along the southern shores of the Great Salt Lake on Interstate 80 then, after
traveling approximately 150 miles, to the famous Bonneville Speedway. This is
the historic site of many land speed records set on the salt flats. Plus, it
is only about ten miles from the Nevada state line. Wendover is a small town
on the Nevada state line with only 1,127 residents, but people are bused in
from Salt Lake City on gambling tours.
For those who enjoy winter sports, you might wish to plan a return trip in the
Winter months. Belgian horses pulling turn of the century antique bobsleds
is ideal for a family outing or a romantic evening. While many people come
for the skiing at Deer Valley or Park City ski areas, there is also cross
country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, ski jumping, snow-boarding,
snowmobiling and snowshoe tours to take part in.
Editor's Note: For more information, or to register for the conference,
contact Clark Development Company at (800) 356-1686 or (801) 261-1686.
Conference registrations will also be accepted on the Salt Air BBS, the
support BBS for PCBoard, which can be reached at (801) 261-8976. Additional
information on the area may be obtained from the Park City Area Chamber of
Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1910 Prospector Av, Park City, Utah
84060, (800) 453-1360. The Inn at Prospector Square can be contacted at (800)
453-3812. For additional information on the Salt Lake City area contact the
Salt Lake City Convention and Visitors Bureau at (801) 521-2822. State-wide
information can be obtained from the Utah Travel Council at (801) 538-1030.
+ + + + +
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
°°°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°°°°°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°°°
°°°°º ATTENTION to Details BBS º°°°°°°°º BBS Excellence... º°°°°
°°°°º SYSOP - Clint Bradford º°°°°°°°º Across the Board! (sm) º°°°°
°°°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°°°°°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°°°
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
°°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°°
°°°º ATD BBS - Devoted to Amateur Radio and Quality Shareware Products º°°°
°°°º ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ º°°°
°°°º * ARRL File / Message Areas * REACT Information º°°°
°°°º * Amateur Callsign Database * Online Legal Advisor º°°°
°°°º * Classified Ads * Electronic Business Cards º°°°
°°°º * Darwin's National USBBS List * File Request Service º°°°
°°°º * Online Reminder System * Surveys and Voting Booths º°°°
°°°È» * Packet Terminal Access * Myers-Briggs Personality Testɼ°°°
°°°°ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͹°°°°
°°°°º Association of Shareware Professionals BBS Number 143 º°°°°
°°°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°°°
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°Mira Loma, California (909) 681-6221°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
+ + + + +
CD-ROMs
-------
Written by Alex Thomas, New Port Richey, FL
Courtesy of Paul Pollack, New Port Richey, FL
CD-ROM. The name first started with CD, or the compact disc, which hit the
market with a storm. Because of the high quality for these discs, including
the almost impossibility of scratching and breaking, and the high quality
sound, the CD hardware (originating from Japan, where else?) caught some
attention in the computer market. I don't know the full history of CDs, (or
even half of it) but I can tell you a lot about the current software coming
out, via magazines, and the Data Superhighway. The end of the name, ROM,
stands for Read Only Memory, because you can't write to CDs, at least not yet.
OK, you're probably confused about the CD-ROM systems (and if not, please
contact me). Their speed, how much will it affect gameplay? The graphics,
does it enhance them any? Exactly what makes the CD-ROM system worth coughing
up the extra $200 to $1000 dollars on your computer instead of those bills you
were supposed to pay, a few months ago.
First of all, before you can walk, you crawl, so before you get the software,
you need the hardware. Which is best? I can't answer that, because it
depends on what you want the CD-ROM for. Want a CD for games? You'll
probably want something that costs less, like a Sega CD, or Nintendo's new
"Project Reality" when it comes out. Need a CD for business? Best bet is
probably to go for a faster computer CD-ROM, say, a quad speed, to load all
those Windows programs. Ya hoo. The first CD out was the single speed CD-ROM
system, followed closely by the Sega CD, and then the double speed CD-ROM.
Barely out now is the triple speed, and coming in the future will be the quad
speed. Of course, I recently found out that the quad speed is 10 times slower
than the average 386 IBM computer's hard disk. If we keep increasing these
speeds, though, we'll start hearing computer conversation like this: "So, you
thinking about getting that new dodeca speed CD-ROM?" "I don't know. My
Hecta speed CD-ROM is starting to drag behind in times." Now wouldn't THAT be
something horrible to hear? Ok, so maybe not, but it would get pretty
confusing after a while.
There sure are a lot of systems, though, considering the first CD-ROM system
just entered the market a few years ago. For my birthday, (June 7th) I'm
getting a Sega CDX. Heh, heh, heh. The CDX is a new Sega CD-ROM system,
which, in addition to playing their CD games on, you can play the Genesis
cartridges, music CDs, Kodak CD photos, and I think, maybe even IBM CD-ROM
discs. Don't get the idea I'm rich or anything. I have to pay for half of
it, ($115) which I earned by mowing lawns and doing chores around the house.
Back to the subject: you (actually I was simulating you) were asking why
anybody would want a CD-ROM system. Well, I think most of it is because the
people using the system don't have to know how to use the system (DOS or
otherwise). All you have to do is put the CD in the drive, and when they're
finished, take it out. Bada bing, bada boom, you're done. Some other, more
sophisticated reasons for wanting a CD-ROM system, is because yes, a CD does
have an increased capacity for music, and speech, and is capable of displaying
better resolution graphics. Unless the software you're using was made for the
CD, although, you're probably not going to get a big difference in the
program, and there are very few programs out right now that are made
specifically for the computer CD-ROM system.
Me? OK, so you didn't really ask about me, but that's tough, I'm gonna tell
you anyhow. Hmmmmm... nobody's really asked what I like (including you) but
I'd say, it, right now, would have to be the Sega CDX, considering that all
its games ARE made specifically for the Sega CDX, and not including only
little improvements.
So, like I said before, it's all in what you want that depends on what you
get. I'm not going to tell you the CD-ROM is good, and you should get one
right now, on the double. I'm not going to tell you they stink, and that you
should wait until they come out later, or wait for Virtual Reality. But just
consider this: while your waiting for the newest CD-ROM system to be coming
out years from now, the rest of us will have conquered the solar system, blown
up the monsters, and saved the princesses many times over.
Editor's Note: Thanks again to Paul Pollack for another great article, this
one written by the editor of GamePlay Alex Thomas. There will be more from
Paul and GamePlay in next month's Pasco BBS Magazine. Paul is an avid gamer
and frequent BBSer who, if you would like to contact him, can be reached at
Gator's Place BBS (813) 376-0087, Dr. Duck's BBS (813) 849-3562 and the Board
of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772.
+ + + + +
Shareware Game Review
---------------------
Written by Matt Murrell, Hudson, FL
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Program Name: ScubaMans Adventure ³ Company: Alive Software ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
³ File Name: SCUBA11.ZIP ³ File Size: About 420 K ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
³ Comments: A Great Game. I enjoyed it and found it very addicting even ³
³ though it was very big for what it is worth. It is not a RPG, but a game ³
³ where you have to roam and collect jewels and rare species of aquatic ³
³ animals before other (not so good) aquatic animals get you. I would ³
³ recommend this to someone who has the time to D/L it and is interested in ³
³ underwater adventure games. Although I would not recommend you save up ³
³ all your time so that you can D/L it because it is a good game, but not ³
³ that good!!! ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
Editor's Note: Look for another of Matt Murrell's Shareware Game Reviews in
next month's issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine. If you need to contact Matt he
can be reached at the Board of Trade BBS, (813) 862-4772, FidoNet 1:3619/10.
+ + + + +
Murphy's Law of Computers
-------------------------
He who hesitates is probably smart.
+ + + + +
ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
º º
º ßÛß ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ Ûßßß ÛßÛ Ûßßß ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ßßÛßß Û Û ÛßÛßÛ º
º Û Û Û Û Û Ûß ÛßßÛ ßßßÛ ÛßßÛ Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û º
º ßßß ß ß ß ß ßßßß ß ß ßßßß ß ß ß ß ßßßß ß ßßßß ß ß º
º º
º ÛßÛ ÛßÛ Ûßßß º
º ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ßßßÛ º
º ßßßß ßßßß ßßßß º
º º
º Since 1985 - Pasco County's Oldest BBS º
º º
º Sysops - Rob & Carolyn Marlowe º
º º
º Popular Chat Board, On-Line Games, CD-ROMS, Internet, FidoNet º
º º
º Ten Lines - (813) 848-6055 Voice - (813) 845-0893 º
º º
º Now with Internet!! º
º º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
+ + + + +
More on Florida's New 941 Area Code
-----------------------------------
Last month's issue, and issues prior to that, discussed the new 941 area code
along Florida's west coast. As of May 28, 1995 that new area code became a
reality for residents of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry,
Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Monroe (except for the Keys which will keep their
current 305 area code), Okeechobee, Polk and Sarasota counties. While
thirteen of sixteen counties had to change their area codes, the Tampa Bay
area counties of Hillsborough, Pasco (except the northeast part currently in
the 904 area code) and Pinellas retained the current 813 area code. With the
increased publicity brought about due to the implementation of the change,
additional information is coming out about the area code shuffling.
Until March 3, 1996, calls to locations in southwest Florida will go through
using either area code, then a recorded message will inform the caller of the
need for the new area code. Local telephone service providers went to the
extent of taking out ads in local newspapers to advise people of the changes.
So that customers will become familiar with the changes, they are advising
them to start using the new 941 area code right away. They also recommend
that people re-program automatic dialers, fax machines, cellular phones,
modems, security alarm reporting systems and anything else to the new area
code. Business customers are reminded that things like business cards,
stationary, order forms, invoices and promotional material will have to be
modified due to the change. For most people their local service area will not
change and calls that are currently long-distance will remain long-distance.
Conversely, local calls will remain local calls, but the new area code may
have to be added prior to dialing.
The change in area codes was necessitated by the population growth and the
rapid increase in telecommunication applications, such as computer
communications, cellular phones, fax machines and pagers. The United States
is using up telephone numbers at a rate of 360,000 a day and this was the
seventh of eleven new area codes scheduled to be added this year. Since each
additional area code creates 7,920,000 new phone numbers, this should meet the
growing demand. Until this year, area codes have traditionally had a middle
number of 0 or 1. Those traditional area codes have been exhausted, so new
area codes can no longer follow that format.
This may not be the only change coming to Florida this year. Southeast
Florida will be receiving a new 954 area code in the near future and the 904
area code is scheduled to be spilt. The spilt in the 904 area code was
originally scheduled to take place before the end of next year, but could
happen as soon as December 1 of this year. A new 850 area code will be
assigned to residents of Hernando, northeast Pasco, Citrus, Levy, Dixie,
Gilchrist, Alachua, Marion, Sumter, Lake, Flagler, Volusia and Seminole
counties. The counties north of these will be able to keep the current 904
area code.
Editor's Note: The Pasco BBS Magazine will pass along any new information on
this developing story in future issues. Those requiring additional
information are encouraged to contact their local telephone company.
+ + + + +
ROTFL!
------
The Computer Virus-of-the-Month Club!
Computer humor courtesy of Sandy Illes
Why wait for some lamer to upload a new variant of some virus to your
computer? Aren't you tired of reading about new viruses but never actually
seeing one? Well, now you can have your very own viruses shipped directly to
your door each month! For only $9.99 per month, we'll send you a new virus!
These viruses are guaranteed to pass the most up-to-date virus scanners, and,
every second month, you'll have the option of ordering a customizable virus!
Yes, now you can dedicate a virus to whomever you please! It's easy! It's
fun! It's the quickest way we can make a buck off you lamers without going to
work!
This offer is limited to only those who will accept it. Supplies may be
limited (NOT!) so act now! Imagine how impressed your friends will be when
they see your "neat" collection of computer viruses! Imagine how terrified
your enemies will be!
Think of the possibilities of having your own unique virus collection:
- Don't like your report card? Delete the data on the school's computer!
- Don't like the IRS? Upload a triple encrypted virus that will make you a
hero to taxpayers all over the country!
- Don't like your best friend? Screw up his only copy of Wing Commander!
Electronic terrorism is the trend of the future, so don't be left behind!
P.S. If you don't order this incredible collection, we'll find out who you are
and send it to you unannounced. Ha Ha Ha!
Send cash only to:
COMPUTER VIRUS-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
12 Datacrime Way
Stoned, Michigan
10110100001
Name: _____________________________ Alias: _____________________
Address: __________________________ Apt: _______________________
City: _____________________________ State: _____________________
Data phone: _______________________ Voice phone: _______________
I certify that I am a complete lamer who has no idea how to make a computer
virus but desperately want the opportunity to intimidate my friends, enemies,
teachers, and anyone else available for contact via modem.
Editor's Note: Thank you to ROTFL Digest!, and its editor Sandy Illes for
allowing the above to be reprinted from a prior issue of the on-line humor
magazine. For more information on ROTFL Digest! contact Access Media Systems
at (905) 847-7362 (Voice/FAX), or call the CAP/Canada BBS at (416) 287-0935.
Email: sandy.illes@canrem.com, or Sandy Illes 1:250/710.
+ + + + +
EFF Quote of the Month
----------------------
"My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be
unpopular."
- Adlai Stevenson
The Electronic Frontier Foundation Quote of the Month is a collection of the
wittiest and stupidest, most sublime and most inane comments ever said about
cryptography, civil liberties, networking, government, privacy, and more.
For more information on the Electronic Frontier Foundation, contact the EFF
via the Internet, phone, fax, or US Mail. The Electronic Frontier
Foundation, 1001 G Street NW, Suite 950 E, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 347-
5400 (voice), (202) 393-5509 (fax), (202) 638-6119 (BBS), Internet:
ask@eff.org.
+ + + + +
July 10, 1990 Press Release - Electronic Frontier Foundation Formed
-------------------------------------------------------------------
New Foundation Established to Encourage Computer-Based Communications
Policies
Washington, D.C., July 10, 1990 -- Mitchell D. Kapor, founder of Lotus
Development Corporation and ON Technology, today announced that he, along with
colleague John Perry Barlow, has established a foundation to address social
and legal issues arising from the impact on society of the increasingly
pervasive use of computers as a means of communication and information
distribution. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will support and
engage in public education on current and future developments in computer-
based and telecommunications media. In addition, it will support litigation
in the public interest to preserve, protect and extend First Amendment rights
within the realm of computing and telecommunications technology.
Initial funding for the Foundation comes from private contributions by Kapor
and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc. The Foundation expects
to actively raise contributions from a wide constituency.
As an initial step to foster public education on these issues, the Foundation
today awarded a grant to the Palo Alto, California-based public advocacy group
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR). The grant will be
used by CPSR to expand the scope of its on-going Computing and Civil Liberties
Project.
Because its mission is to not only increase public awareness about civil
liberties issues arising in the area of computer-based communications, but
also to support litigation in the public interest, the Foundation has
recently intervened on behalf of two legal cases.
The first case concerns Steve Jackson, an Austin-based game manufacturer who
was the target of the Secret Service's Operation Sun Devil. The EFF has
pressed for a full disclosure by the government regarding the seizure of his
company's computer equipment. In the second action, the Foundation intends to
seek amicus curiae (friend of the court) status in the government's case
against Craig Neidorf, a 20-year-old University of Missouri student who is the
editor of the electronic newsletter Phrack World News.
"It is becoming increasingly obvious that the rate of technology advancement
in communications is far outpacing the establishment of appropriate cultural,
legal and political frameworks to handle the issues that are arising," said
Kapor. "And the Steve Jackson and Neidorf cases dramatically point to the
timeliness of the Foundation's mission. We intend to be instrumental in
helping shape a new framework that embraces these powerful new technologies
for the public good."
The use of new digital media -- in the form of on-line information and
interactive conferencing services, computer networks and electronic bulletin
boards -- is becoming widespread in businesses and homes. However, the
electronic society created by these new forms of digital communications does
not fit neatly into existing, conventional legal and social structures.
The question of how electronic communications should be accorded the same
political freedoms as newspapers, books, journals and other modes of discourse
is currently the subject of discussion among this country's lawmakers and
members of the computer industry. The EFF will take an active role in these
discussions through its continued funding of various educational projects and
forums.
An important facet of the Foundation's mission is to help both the public and
policy-makers see and understand the opportunities as well as the challenges
posed by developments in computing and telecommunications. Also, the EFF will
encourage and support the development of new software to enable non-technical
users to more easily use their computers to access the growing number of
digital communications services available.
Editor's Note: The EFF may be contacted at Electronic Frontier Foundation,
1001 G Street NW, Suite 950 E, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 347-5400 (voice),
(202) 393-5509 (fax), (202) 638-6119 (BBS), Internet: ask@eff.org.
+ + + + +
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛÜÜÜÜ ³
³ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛßßßß ³
³ ßÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÛ ÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ³
³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ³
³ ÛÛÜÜÜÛß ÛÛÜÜÜÛß ÛÛÜÜÜÜ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ³
³ ÛÛßßßÛÛ ÛÛßßßÛÛ ßßßßÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ³
³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÛ ÛÛ ³
³ ³
³ ÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³
³ ß ÛÛÜÜÜÛÛ ÛÛÜÜÜÜ ³
³ ßßßÛÛÛ ßßßßÛÛ ³
³ ÛÛÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ³
³ ³
³ ³
³ Do not miss next month's ³
³ ³
³ SPECIAL ONE BBSCON '95 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE ³
³ ³
³ More information on the ONE BBSCON than can be found in ANY other source! ³
³ ³
³ SEE YOU IN TAMPA! ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
+ + + + +
PBM Flashback - July 1993
-------------------------
During the middle of 1993, "The Best of CyberScape LIVE!" appeared in several
issues of the Pasco BBS Magazine. These were live on-line interviews that
took place on the CyberScape BBS located in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Dave
White was the Sysop of the CyberScape BBS and the host for the interviews.
The editor of the Pasco BBS Magazine was introduced to Dave White through Dan
Linton, Sysop of the Software Creations BBS, who he had interviewed several
months earlier. Unfortunately, we sort of lost track of Dave when he took the
BBS down to purse other opportunities. But, it was an enjoyable way to spend
a Sunday evening with people jumping in to ask different questions.
On June 13, 1993, David Hamel, best known as the author of the Boxer Text
Editor, was the special guest and the transcript appeared in the July 1993
issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine. Duane Morin, a Shareware author from
Worcester, Massachusetts and Jeremy Frerichs, a student from Leominster,
Massachusetts joined Dave White and Richard Ziegler for the on-line interview
with David Hamel. This PBM Flashback is a bit longer than past installments
have been, but we wanted to give you a taste of how much fun "The Best of
CyberScape LIVE!" was. The sessions appeared just as they did in the Chat
Conference on the old CyberScape BBS.
Dave White: What first sparked your interest in PCs and programming?
David Hamel: Programming is a very natural thing for me, and always has been.
I find it to be almost second nature. I got started with the programmable TI
calculators, then the Radio Shack Color Computer, and then on to the Atari ST
and to PCs.
Duane Morin: Have you worked on shareware programs in the past, or is Boxer
pretty much your first major release?
David Hamel: No - BOXER is my first effort. It evolved not from a plan to
create a Shareware product, but from an interest I took in text editors.
BOXER spent 5 years in "secrecy" with just a few friends using it.
Duane Morin: How did you keep such a project alive for 5 years without it
being, well, productive? I.e. I take it you didn't do it for the money?? <g>
David Hamel: That's a good question. I've got a talent for seeing things
through to completion. It was done as a hobby - there was no money to support
the initial development, just time.
Duane Morin: A spare time, thing? You had a full-time job as well?
David Hamel: Oh yes. I had been working all through BOXER's early
development. I'd routinely quiz people about editors they'd used and try to
collect ideas. I ran the project pretty seriously, but it was all for fun -
initially.
Duane Morin: Any suggestions for seeing shareware programming as "fun" and
not as a second job? I'm running into this problem myself at the moment.
David Hamel: I think the *best* way to approach Shareware is for fun, and not
for profit. That is a far more reasonable approach, since so few make real
money anyway. But, if you're talented, and you've got incredible persistence,
you might make some money after all.
Dave White: What advice would you give to aspiring young programmers with
regard to shareware and programming in general?
David Hamel: Find a project which has genuine interest for you. Trying to
learn programming by writing a program which holds no interest for you doesn't
work very well. This is often what happens in programming courses. But when
a programmer is truly interested in his work, then magic things can happen.
Duane Morin: Why did you choose a text editor? Was it tough to compete with
other popular editors, like PC-Write, Emacs?
David Hamel: I felt that a text editor embodied many different aspects of
programming: memory management, searching, sorting, screen display, user
interface. As such, it seemed a neat thing to tackle.
Dave White: What marketing techniques have you found to be the most
successful?
David Hamel: The BBS distribution channel supplies about 2/3 of my registered
users, so that has certainly been important to me. While not literally a
"technique", I believe that the attention to detail in BOXER is what initially
got people excited about it, and what hooks people. It's funny, because
"attention to detail" isn't something that you find in a bulleted feature
list. It's a hard thing to sell. But after people try BOXER, that's what
they're reacting to, most often.
Duane Morin: So are you supporting yourself on BOXER now? You mentioned
before dedicating all your time to it.
David Hamel: Yes - I've been doing BOXER full-time since 9/91. I quit my
consulting job a bit before I should have, but BOXER had shown promise, and I
wanted to follow my heart. I've been flattered by the praise I've received.
Duane Morin: So with a little dedication a programmer CAN support him/herself
on the registrations of even ONE strong product?
David Hamel: Yes, in some cases. I don't recommend starting with that hope,
though. Do it because you love it. Dedicate yourself beyond belief. Have
remarkable patience, and some talent. Then it may come. (Sorry to add so
many qualifiers :-)
Richard Ziegler: My time is running out!
Dave White: uh oh... I'll be back in a minute.
Duane Morin: Whoops, I think we lost Richard and Dave for the moment.
Jeremy Frerichs: Dave is giving Richard more time...
Dave White: We lost Rich... Hopefully he'll be back!
Richard Ziegler: I'm back <grin>.
Duane Morin: Have you got a "favorite" shareware program? Something someone
else wrote that just impresses your socks off?
David Hamel: Favorite program? Oh boy! I really don't get a chance to see
all the neat things people are doing. I'd say the best program is definitely
%6%^%$$]]4]55 -Whoa- Did you see that line noise!! ;-)
Duane Morin: I don't think we saw your answer there...the best program you've
seen is..?
David Hamel: (line noise) A clever question avoidance technique. :-)
Duane Morin: Ah, sorry. Faked me outta my socks.
David Hamel: Well, put 'em back on.
Editor's Note: PBM Flashback will appear on a regular basis in future issues.
Most issues will have this brief look back at some of the features which have
appeared over the history of the Pasco BBS Magazine.
+ + + + +
Telix Special Celebrates Ten Years
----------------------------------
deltaComm Development, Inc. has announced a special discount on their popular
telecommunications package Telix. The special price of $69.00 for the Windows
version and $59.00 for the DOS version is being offered to celebrate ten years
of the Shareware program. This limited time offer saves people $30.00 on the
Windows version and $10.00 on the version for DOS.
While a history of Telix would have been a welcome addition to the
informational file announcing the offer, there was a brief comment contained
within the archive's description file. "Ten years ago, in the basement of a
Toronto house, Telix was born. Ten years later, its still the best value in
communications. Order your copy at this low price today, because you may not
see a deal this good until Telix turns twenty."
Since the current product packaging for Telix is being redesigned and
reprinted, this offer is only valid while supplies of the current packaging
last. deltaComm Development, Inc. had 2,200 copies on hand as of May 23,
1995, and this offer expires on August 1, 1995.
Editor's Note: For more information on Telix and this special offer contact
deltaComm Development, Inc., P.O. Box 1185, Cary, NC 27512-1185. Their
telephone numbers are as follows: (800) 859-8000 (voice), (919) 460-4556
(voice), (919) 460-4531 (fax) and (919) 481-9399 (BBS).
+ + + + +
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
² ²
² Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida ²
² ²
² Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine ²
² ²
² Home of Shadoware ²
² ²
² Home of the 813 BBS Directory ²
² ²
² (813) 862-4772 ²
² ²
² 12/24/48/96/144/28800 baud ²
² ²
² Official Distribution Site: ²
² Alive Software, Apogee Software, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, ²
² Id Software, Impulse Software, MVP Software, Safari Software, ²
² Software Creations and Soleau Software ²
² ²
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
+ + + + +
Freeware Hall of Fame
---------------------
Charlottesville, VA - Owning a computer doesn't require spending a fortune for
computer software. Good software that doesn't cost a dime is available to do
most any job, according to Rey Barry, a retired real estate broker who founded
the "Freeware Hall of Fame"(sm).
"There are so many first-rate free programs for DOS and Windows you can do
practically anything when you know what to look for and how to find it," Barry
says.
To make his point he published "The Freeware Hall of Fame Guide to Free
Software," a 96-page paperback available by mail order. It describes 1,743
programs free for personal use, and tells how to find them on the Internet and
neighborhood Bulletin Boards.
In May, BBS Magazine called the collection, "... some of the finest utilities
and applications available. Many are tools that you couldn't find elsewhere
at any price."
From A to Z they range from archivers that store or back-up files to a postal
Zip Code bulk mail manager. Included are word processors, loan analyzers,
hard drive file managers, spelling checkers, legal forms, schedule planners,
multi-media viewers and creators, modem communication programs, collector
databases, aviation and maritime programs, network utilities, programs to
convert nearly anything to something else, and 100 programs to manage the
Internet and other on-line services.
Databases list the telephone area codes for the entire world, thousands of
songs and composers, a year-by-year review of United States culture, and a
nationwide list of hamburger chain radio channels. Tune in with a scanner and
hear orders being placed at the neighborhood drive in.
Whether for profit or for fun it's all free, and some things are found only in
Freeware. For example, Barry says the only DOS program to assign jobs to the
keyboard's F-11 and F-12 keys is Freeware.
The Hall of Fame, or FreeHOF as it's known, had its origins in 1984 when Barry
began looking for software to run his real estate office. "I was amazed that
the Freeware found on Bulletin Boards was sometimes better than retail
software costing hundreds of dollars, and I began collecting it," Barry
explains.
Who writes free software? According to Barry some of the authors "rank with
the best in the profession, employed by the most advanced governments and
industries. The Freeware they write on their own time often reflects the
highest level of concept and execution."
By 1989 the collection was so large and diverse Barry named it the Freeware
Hall of Fame and began mailing choice Freeware to Bulletin Boards in the US,
Canada and Western Europe that were members of the ILink International Netmail
Network(sm) where Barry is an administrator.
Three years later he opened the FreeHOF BBS and currently more than 300
Bulletin Board operators on three continents regularly call in to download and
upload Freeware. "So far as I can discover, it's the world's only BBS
dedicated to Freeware, Public Domain and $0 Shareware" Barry says.
The Guide to Free Software singles out what Barry calls "the circle of Great
Freeware Writers legendary for the quantity and quality of their Free
programs, or for their impact on the PC industry." He says nearly every PC in
the world runs at least one Freeware utility by an author in that circle.
"People don't think of those as Freeware but as programs that 'came with the
computer,' as indeed they did," he says.
The Guide has two parts. One lists applications and databases in 105
categories. The second is an alphabetized list naming more than 1,000
Freeware writers and their programs. Barry notes that 13 of the most prolific
writers account for more than 180 entries in the Guide.
An introduction gives tips on the best way to find the newest releases of
these programs on the Internet and neighborhood Bulletin Boards - and suggests
who should NOT be using the Internet to search (people who pay their own INET
bill.) The introduction also tells how to keep computers safe from
destructive viruses and trojans.
The Guide is available for $20 from the Freeware Hall of Fame, 1561 Dairy
Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903-1303. No charge for VA sales tax or postage.
The book is expected to be in book stores nationwide by the end of the year,
probably at a higher price.
Editor's Note: This text is from a press release announcing the Freeware Hall
of Fame guide. For additional information contact Rey Barry at the Freeware
Hall of Fame, 1561 Dairy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903-1303, or at (804)
293-2693 (voice), or rey.barry@execnet.com (Internet).
+ + + + +
Corrections and Clarifications
------------------------------
Glen Davison did not submit his Board Review for this month's issue, but his
column should appear in futures issues.
+ + + + +
Next Month
----------
The August 1995 issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine will be a "Special ONE BBSCON
'95 Commemorative Issue." This issue will include a separate file with all
kinds of information about this summer's event in Tampa. There will also be
an article in the main magazine file called "ONE BBSCON '95 Simulation." This
issue should have more information on ONE BBSCON '95 than you will find in any
other source, with the possible exception of the actual program purchased at
the event itself. Include all our regular features on top of that, not to
mention all the latest BBS news, and it makes for a very special issue.
Do not miss the August issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine, which will be
available on or before July 22.
+ + + + +
Important Information
---------------------
The Pasco BBS Magazine is distributed free of charge, as long as it is
unaltered and complete. When uploading make sure the original archive is
intact with all files included.
The Pasco BBS Magazine is the sole property of the Board of Trade BBS and
Richard Ziegler. It is legally copyrighted material and all rights are
reserved. No part of this magazine may be used without permission. No
compensation of any kind may be received for the viewing, distribution, or
for any other use of the magazine files.
By submitting something, you are agreeing to allow publication of the
material in the magazine. Articles reprinted with permission remain the
property of the cited source. Guest contributions may not necessarily
reflect the views of the Pasco BBS Magazine. The editor reserves the right
to edit submissions, however, this is normally only done to correct spelling
or grammatical errors. The editor makes all determinations on what and when
articles will run.
Every effort is made to insure that all information contained within the
Pasco BBS Magazine is accurate, but inadvertently mistakes can appear.
The Pasco BBS Magazine, Board of Trade BBS or Richard Ziegler cannot be held
liable for information contained within this document. It is intended that
this magazine exists for the personal enjoyment of the readers.
Rather than place a trademark symbol at every occurrence of a trademarked
name, it is stated that trademarks are only being used in an editorial
fashion with no intention of any infringement of the trademark itself.
More information can be found in the other files distributed with the
magazine's archive.
Comments, questions, suggestions and submissions can be left on the Board
of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772, or mailed to Board of Trade BBS, P.O. Box 1853,
New Port Richey, FL 34656.
+ + + + +
(C)Copyright 1994 Richard Ziegler - All Rights Reserved
+ + + + +
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