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ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
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º º
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ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º
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ɼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º
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º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û º
|
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ɼ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÛ Û º
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º ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
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º º
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º ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º
|
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Éͼ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º
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º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û º
|
||
ɼ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
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||
º º
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||
ÉÍͼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÉÍÍͼ
|
||
º Û Ü Ü Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ ÜÛ Û ßÛÛ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º
|
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ɼ Û Û Û Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÜÛßÜÛÛÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ Û ÛÜß Û Û ÜÜÜÛÜ º
|
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ɼ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
|
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ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÍÍ»
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º May 1996 Volume 4 Number 5 º
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ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ
|
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º Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida (813) 862-4772 º
|
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ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
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|
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In This Issue
|
||
-------------
|
||
|
||
þ United States Senate E-Mail Addresses
|
||
|
||
þ Doom II: Hell on Earth Review
|
||
Written by Paul Pollack
|
||
|
||
þ Computer Basics
|
||
Written by Ed Garwood
|
||
|
||
þ BBS Basics: High Speed Transfers, Line Noise, Etc.
|
||
|
||
þ Computer Humor, Reviews and all the Latest News
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Editor's Welcome
|
||
----------------
|
||
|
||
Greetings fellow BBSer. Thank you for taking the time to check out this
|
||
month's Pasco BBS Magazine!
|
||
|
||
The plan for this month was to have an interview with a major Shareware
|
||
author, however, I never got around to arranging it. So, that idea has been
|
||
deferred to a future issue. Some months there is more time to work on the
|
||
magazine than others and this was one of those months when time seemed to run
|
||
short. The deadline always comes quickly. This may be a good time to mention
|
||
that I would be very happy to receive articles written from readers of the
|
||
magazine. Anything computer related would be great and the articles do not
|
||
have to be lengthy. Articles could help this editor avoid burnout, which is a
|
||
common ailment for free on-line publications. Enough of my traditional
|
||
begging, there is plenty of interest in this month's issue.
|
||
|
||
This month begins a series of updates for BBS Basics, the informational
|
||
database for the new BBS user. Over the next few issues we will have new and
|
||
updated articles, as we prepare to release the next version of the Freeware
|
||
program. This month looks at High Speed Transfers, Line Noise, Etc. There is
|
||
also the second in a series of great articles written by Ed Garwood called
|
||
Computer Basics. Paul Pollack has written a very nice review of the
|
||
commercial sequel to the Shareware classic Doom, id Software's Doom II: Hell
|
||
on Earth. PBM Flashback looks at what some people saying before the 1993
|
||
release of Doom. This month's news includes a short article about a new Pasco
|
||
County BBS listing and a couple of interesting press releases. Along with all
|
||
our regular features is a list of the e-mail addresses for most members of the
|
||
United States Senate.
|
||
|
||
Until next month, thanks for reading!
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
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|
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ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|
||
³ PASCO BBS MAGAZINE ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ Tampa Bay's Oldest Free On-line Magazine! ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ Member of the Association of Online Professionals ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ Member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ EDITOR: Richard Ziegler ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ HOME BBS: Board of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772 ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.sanctum.com/pasco ³
|
||
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Senate E-Mail Addresses
|
||
-----------------------
|
||
|
||
The following is a listing of those members of the United States Senate who
|
||
have published e-mail addresses on the Senate's Internet server. To see if
|
||
there is an address for a Senator not listed, write their office at the United
|
||
States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. You can also call the United States
|
||
Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and a switchboard operator will connect
|
||
you directly with the Senate office you wish to speak with.
|
||
|
||
State Senator E-Mail Address
|
||
----- ------- --------------
|
||
Arkansas Bumpers, Dale senator@bumpers.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Arizona Kyl, Jon info@kyl.senate.gov
|
||
Arizona McCain, John senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
California Boxer, Barbara senator@boxer.senate.gov
|
||
California Feinstein, Dianne senator@feinstein.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Colorado Brown, Hank senator_brown@brown.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Connecticut Dodd, Christopher J. sen_dodd@dodd.senate.gov
|
||
Connecticut Lieberman, Joseph I. senator_lieberman@lieberman.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Delaware Biden, Jr., Joseph R. senator@biden.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Florida Graham, Bob bob_graham@graham.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Georgia Coverdell, Paul senator_coverdell@coverdell.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Iowa Grassley, Chuck chuck_grassley@grassley.senate.gov
|
||
Iowa Harkin, Tom tom_harkin@harkin.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Idaho Craig, Larry E. larry_craig@craig.senate.gov
|
||
Idaho Kempthorne, Dirk dirk_kempthorne@kempthorne.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Illinois Moseley-Braun, Carol senator@moseley-braun.senate.gov
|
||
Illinois Simon, Paul senator@simon.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Kentucky Ford, Wendell H. wendell_ford@ford.senate.gov
|
||
Kentucky McConnell, Mitch senator@mcconnell.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Louisiana Breaux, John B. senator@breaux.senate.gov
|
||
Louisiana Johnston, J. Bennett senator@johnston.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Massachusetts Kennedy, Edward M. senator@kennedy.senate.gov
|
||
Massachusetts Kerry, John F. john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Maryland Mikulski, Barbara A. senator@mikulski.senate.gov
|
||
Maryland Sarbanes, Paul S. senator@sarbanes.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Maine Cohen, William S. billcohen@cohen.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Michigan Abraham, Spencer michigan@abraham.senate.gov
|
||
Michigan Levin, Carl senator@levin.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Minnesota Grams, Rod mail_grams@grams.senate.gov
|
||
Minnesota Wellstone, Paul senator@wellstone.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Missouri Ashcroft, John john_ashcroft@ashcroft.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Mississippi Cochran, Thad senator@cochran.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Montana Baucus, Max max@baucus.senate.gov
|
||
Montana Burns, Conrad conrad_burns@burns.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
North Carolina Faircloth, Lauch senator@faircloth.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
North Dakota Dorgan, Byron L. senator@dorgan.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Nebraska Kerrey, J. Robert bob@kerrey.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
New Hampshire Gregg, Judd mailbox@gregg.senate.gov
|
||
New Hampshire Smith, Bob opinion@smith.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
New Jersey Bradley, Bill senator@bradley.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
New Mexico Bingaman, Jeff senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov
|
||
New Mexico Domenici, Pete V. senator_domenici@domenici.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Nevada Reid, Harry senator_reid@reid.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
New York Moynihan, Daniel Patrick senator@dpm.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Ohio DeWine, Mike senator_dewine@dewine.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Pennsylvania Santorum, Rick senator@santorum.senate.gov
|
||
Pennsylvania Specter, Arlen senator_specter@specter.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Rhode Island Chafee, John H. senator_chafee@chafee.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
South Carolina Hollings, Ernest F. senator@hollings.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
South Dakota Daschle, Thomas A. tom_daschle@daschle.senate.gov
|
||
South Dakota Pressler, Larry larry_pressler@pressler.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Tennessee Frist, Bill senator_frist@frist.senate.gov
|
||
Tennessee Thompson, Fred senator_thompson@thompson.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Texas Hutchison, Kay Bailey senator@hutchison.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Virginia Robb, Charles S. senator@robb.senate.gov
|
||
Virginia Warner, John W. senator@warner.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Vermont Jeffords, James M. vermont@jeffords.senate.gov
|
||
Vermont Leahy, Patrick J. senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Washington Gorton, Slade senator_gorton@gorton.senate.gov
|
||
Washington Murray, Patty senator_murray@murray.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Wisconsin Feingold, Russell D. senator@feingold.senate.gov
|
||
Wisconsin Kohl, Herb senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
West Virginia Rockefeller IV, John D. senator@rockefeller.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
Wyoming Simpson, Alan K. senator@simpson.senate.gov
|
||
|
||
(Reprinted courtesy of Computer underground Digest)
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
New Pasco BBS Listing Released
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Clark Gilbo is well known to Pasco County BBS users for his efforts compiling
|
||
BBS listings over the years. On April 5, 1996, he released his latest
|
||
endeavor, the Pasco BBS Listing. This new publication contains telephone
|
||
numbers for computer bulletin boards in western Pasco County and Pinellas
|
||
County based systems located north of Largo. The Pasco BBS Listing, which is
|
||
scheduled to be released on a monthly basis, has a standard ASCII edition and
|
||
an ANSI color edition.
|
||
|
||
Clark Gilbo first published a BBS list in the fall of 1992, when he created
|
||
the Westcoast 813 BBS Directory. At that time, the 813 area code stretched
|
||
along a good portion of Florida's west coast. Late in 1994, when the local
|
||
area codes were changed, he renamed the list to the 813 BBS Directory. This
|
||
version covered Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, which were the
|
||
counties retaining the 813 area code. The last release of the 813 BBS
|
||
Directory was in the fall of 1995. Clark Gilbo put it this way in the first
|
||
release of the new Pasco listing. "Due to non-support of BBS users and system
|
||
operators of the 813 calling area, The 813 BBS Directory is history! The
|
||
editor of this listing still hold all rights to The 813 BBS Directory. Also,
|
||
the phone bill has been on the average of $45 per month, which hasn't even
|
||
come close to breaking even. I can no longer can afford it. So that west
|
||
Pasco County has a good listing, I'm doing this listing. Nothing too fancy.
|
||
Hope you find what you're looking for."
|
||
|
||
Despite the similarity of names, the Pasco BBS Listing is not created by the
|
||
Pasco BBS Magazine. The Board of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772 will continue to
|
||
act as a primary point of distribution for the listing, and the latest issue
|
||
will always be a free download in the Local Author Support file directory.
|
||
Home Office Online of Tarpon Springs, when the system comes on-line, will act
|
||
as the home of the listing.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
ÕÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑѸ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØØØØØ Board of Trade BBS ØØØØØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØØØ New Port Richey, Florida ØØØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØ (813) 862-4772 ØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØ FidoNet: 1:3619/10 ØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØ ØØµ
|
||
ÆØ The Hobby BBS for the Entire Family! ص
|
||
³ ³
|
||
³ Pasco County's Information Source ³
|
||
³ Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine, DA BUCS and BBS Basics ³
|
||
³ ³
|
||
³ Call here FIRST for the BEST in Shareware ³
|
||
³ Official Distribution Site for the Most Popular Authors ³
|
||
ÆØ ص
|
||
ÆØØØ Supporting the Local Computer Community ØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØ Local Author Support File Directory ØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØ Official Support BBS for Pasco ComPats Computer Club ØØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØØØ ØØØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÆØØØØØØØØØØØ Member: AOP and EFF ØØØØØØØØØØµ
|
||
ÔÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏϾ
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Doom II: Hell on Earth Review
|
||
------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Although millions of users will have bought Doom II by the time most of you
|
||
read this, I feel it only appropriate to look at one of the hottest selling
|
||
titles. Doom II is the best first person shooter there ever was, surpassing
|
||
the original Doom in many areas, and setting the standard for the future of
|
||
electronic entertainment. Just read on and find out what I mean.
|
||
|
||
Statistics: Rated like a report card:
|
||
|
||
A+ -- Mega-awesome
|
||
A -- Awesome
|
||
B+ -- Great
|
||
B -- Really good
|
||
C+ -- Good
|
||
C -- Average
|
||
D+ -- OK
|
||
D -- Fair
|
||
F+ -- Better than nothing...
|
||
F -- Stinks!
|
||
|
||
Categories: Different optional features all rolled up to equal the overall
|
||
grade of the game:
|
||
|
||
Graphics: How good are the graphics compared to your computer's maximum
|
||
capacity available for the graphics?
|
||
|
||
Sound: Are the bleeps and bloops good, or are they really just bleeps and
|
||
bloops?
|
||
|
||
Music: Will you be humming the theme song later, or will you be trying to get
|
||
it out of your head?
|
||
|
||
Plot: Does the plot remind you of Willy Beamish, or King's Quest VI?
|
||
|
||
Animation: Was the animation smooth and easy to understand what was going on,
|
||
or did it look too jerky and hard to understand?
|
||
|
||
Puzzles: Were the puzzles way too hard and stupid, far too easy for even a
|
||
beginner, or just perfectly set in the middle?
|
||
|
||
Humor: Does some parts of the game make you laugh, chuckle, groan, or could
|
||
you not even tell they were a joke?
|
||
|
||
Funfactor: Is the game fun enough to even have a Re-play factor?
|
||
|
||
Re-play factor: Does winning the first time through make you want to replay
|
||
it, or store it?
|
||
|
||
Control\manipulation: Can you do what you want to do without hassles or too
|
||
much tediousness?
|
||
|
||
Technical factor: Did the game hang up more often than it ran?
|
||
|
||
Concept: Is the main idea of what kind of game your dealing with sound good
|
||
to you?
|
||
|
||
Bang for your buck: Is it really worth all that hard-earned moola?
|
||
|
||
Ending: How good was the ending sequence for the game? Did it make you feel
|
||
all tingly inside?
|
||
|
||
Overall: Put all these factors together, and what do you get?
|
||
|
||
Doom II: Hell on Earth v1.666 (CD version)
|
||
|
||
Statistics:
|
||
|
||
Company: ID/Distribution by GT software
|
||
Requirements: 386 DX, 4 megs RAM, VGA
|
||
Includes: Small manual
|
||
Recommended: Full hard-disk installation, 486 DX-33, VLB/PCI video, 8
|
||
megabytes RAM, modem/network hook-up, and supported sound card
|
||
Retail price: around $60
|
||
Sale/street price: around $40
|
||
Any codes: IDCLEV<level number> -- unlike the original Doom, the format for
|
||
the warp code is now simply IDCLEV and
|
||
then the level number
|
||
IDMUS<level number> -- switches the music to the music from the
|
||
level you select (Doom ][ only)
|
||
|
||
And a bunch of other codes from the original Doom (although no
|
||
IDSPISPOPD, it's been replaced with IDCLIP)...
|
||
|
||
Difficulty: Variable, although harder than the original Doom
|
||
|
||
Copy Protection type: None
|
||
|
||
Report Card: (Remember: these are strictly our opinion)
|
||
|
||
Graphics...................... A+
|
||
Sound......................... B
|
||
Music......................... B
|
||
Plot.......................... N/A
|
||
Animation..................... A+
|
||
Puzzles....................... N/A
|
||
Humor......................... N/A
|
||
Funfactor..................... A+
|
||
Re-play factor................ A+
|
||
Control\manipulation.......... A
|
||
Technical factor.............. A
|
||
Concept....................... B
|
||
Bang for your buck............ A+
|
||
Ending........................ D
|
||
Overall....................... A
|
||
|
||
The Explanation:
|
||
|
||
Graphics (A+): It's back, and better than ever. With Doom II, ID has set a
|
||
new standard for graphic detail in a game of this kind. The walls, doors, and
|
||
monsters all look great throughout, and don't break up into a pixelated mess
|
||
when you get up close. There's a variety of styles present in the levels, and
|
||
the new monsters (all seven of 'em) all look great. After playing Doom II,
|
||
you'll wonder how you ever got along with those other inferior titles.
|
||
|
||
Sound (B): The sounds in Doom II were great, and all the weapons sounded like
|
||
they were supposed to. This is one of the aspects of Doom that is basically
|
||
the same as the original, except that the new creatures make some cool new
|
||
sounds. Then again, who really cares about such trivial matters as sound and
|
||
music when the game is so much fun?
|
||
|
||
Music (B): Like the original Doom, the music was fairly solid throughout,
|
||
although I wouldn't go so far as to say they'd win a music award. There are
|
||
some great new tunes, though, and most Doomers won't be disappointed by the
|
||
selections.
|
||
|
||
Plot (N/A): Although Doom II actually has a plot, it doesn't really matter.
|
||
All you really have to know is that the monsters are your enemies and you have
|
||
some rather big guns. For the people that enjoy hearing about the plot, here
|
||
it is: You've just come back from your mission to the moonbase, and after
|
||
arriving on Earth you begin to notice some strangely familiar sights. Humans
|
||
are turning into monsters, and all hell is basically breaking out all over
|
||
Earth (hence the title). As usual, you're left to save everyone's butt.
|
||
|
||
Animation (A+): Although you'll need at least a 486 SX-25 to really enjoy the
|
||
game, a DX-33 with VLB and a full hard drive installation will really get
|
||
things moving in a full-screen window. With a fast VLB/PCI machine, the
|
||
animation is as smooth as any game you've seen before, and probably even more
|
||
ultra-realistic. All the characters and guns have realistic movements,
|
||
especially if played off your hard-disk, and help bring life to the game.
|
||
|
||
Puzzles (N/A): Although there are puzzles in the game, and actually quite a
|
||
bit of them (find the keycard, then the door, etc.), they blend in so well
|
||
with the actual gameplay that it was impossible to give this a separate
|
||
rating. If you want to know about the difficulty, well then, here goes: Doom
|
||
II is a whole lot harder than the original Doom, with larger levels (all
|
||
thirty-two of 'em), tougher enemies, and more screamin' demons who want
|
||
nothing more in the world than to see you dead. As you progress through the
|
||
game, the levels get more and more difficult, with pits that you can't get out
|
||
of if you fall in, crushing ceilings that hurt you unless you have God mode
|
||
on, and many more enemies.
|
||
|
||
Humor (N/A): If you've played Doom, you'll realize why this got an N/A. Doom
|
||
wasn't meant to be a funny game, but rather an explosive action game that
|
||
would send the millions to their local computer dealer to buy a new PC. When
|
||
the action's this exciting, and the game's this fun, you'd think that ID
|
||
wouldn't even bother with humor. Wrong... One of the least reported facts
|
||
are the two extra levels in Doom II, called Wolfenstein and Grosse. The
|
||
first, Wolfenstein, is just what it sounds like, a level from Wolfenstein
|
||
where you go up against some pretty mean blue soldiers (although they seem a
|
||
little small). Although I doubt that ID intended this level to be funny, it
|
||
kinda is. ID's probably never going to remake Wolfenstein with the Doom
|
||
engine, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how it would look if they did.
|
||
The latter, Grosse, is pretty self explanatory. It starts off like the
|
||
previous level, except towards the end you walk into a room and see tiny
|
||
little Commander Keens hanging. To beat the level, you have to blow up the
|
||
Commander Keens (and get to see their heads roll on the floor). Man, I didn't
|
||
know ID was so mad at their Apogee association. It still got an N/A though;
|
||
these weren't really that humorous, and I'm not even sure if ID intended them
|
||
to be.
|
||
|
||
Funfactor (A+): Ask Alex, and he'll tell you that I was never a Doom maniac
|
||
-- sure I had my days of Doom euphoria, but those days grew numbered and I
|
||
never really bothered with the game that much after that. It seemed like a
|
||
lot of repetition -- grab the gun, kill the monster, grab the gun again, etc.
|
||
But Doom II hurls so many ferocious monsters and so many different levels at
|
||
you that you just can't help but love it. Modem and network play don't hurt
|
||
it either.
|
||
|
||
Re-play factor (A+): After playing through the thirty base levels and
|
||
conquering the two hidden levels, I doubt that many gamers will go through the
|
||
entire game again. Sure, the hardcore Doom fans might do it --OK, so maybe I
|
||
was wrong -- but I for one, wouldn't. But the addition of modem and network
|
||
play only add to the replay value, and lend the game a unique human touch that
|
||
just adds the final glaze to the already realistic presentation. But the
|
||
final touch, and the reason for the A+ is that there are a seemingly infinite
|
||
number of Doom WAD's floating around on on-line services today, and it isn't
|
||
that hard to find a program that converts Doom I wads to Doom II WAD's. With
|
||
all those levels floating around out there (including Gladiator, my own Doom
|
||
][ level available on the Board of Trade BBS and Studio PC), and the
|
||
previously mentioned modem/network play, Doom II has the most replay value
|
||
I've ever seen in a game of its kind.
|
||
|
||
Control/Manipulation (A): If you played Doom (hey, who didn't?!), control
|
||
will be a snap for you to master -- especially since Doom can be controlled
|
||
with a wide variety of peripherals. Doom makes full use of a keyboard, mouse,
|
||
or joystick, and with a gamepad the controls really shine. Like the original
|
||
Doom, Doom II also supports the Cyberman. No matter which controller you
|
||
choose, Doom II responds quickly and accurately.
|
||
|
||
Technical factor (A): What can I say: I didn't have a single technical
|
||
problem in Doom. OK, so that's not entirely true -- I did get an error when I
|
||
tried to warp to level 33, but that was my fault, since there isn't a level
|
||
33, not the game's. With the hardware described above, you should be able to
|
||
run the game in a good sized window and still maintain a fairly high frames-
|
||
per-second rate. Although Hell on Earth will perform the best if run from a
|
||
hard disk, you may be forced to run it from the CD. If you opt not to install
|
||
it, the CD version actually runs okay. There were some lost frames when you
|
||
walk around, and occasionally you lost control over your character when it was
|
||
accessing the CD, but for the most part it was tolerable. The only major
|
||
downfall to running it from the CD is the inability to save any games.
|
||
|
||
Concept (B): I admit it, the number of 3D games seems to increase
|
||
exponentially, and the concept has become overused. Every time a new first-
|
||
person shooter comes out, I, as a reviewer, have to ask myself whether it's
|
||
fresh and original enough to stand out in an already overcrowded field. With
|
||
Doom II, the answer is a definite maybe. While there are many improvements
|
||
from the original, including seven new monsters (like the lost-soul throwing
|
||
pain elemental, and the Baron's little brother -- the Hell Knight), one new
|
||
weapon (the double barreled sawed-off shotgun), enhanced graphic effects, and
|
||
a few speed enhancements, its still just Doom. Then again, being "just Doom"
|
||
isn't half bad...
|
||
|
||
Bang for your Buck (A+): If you're a Doom fan, there's no excuse not to get
|
||
this game. With its new additions, cutting-edge feel, and devilishly fun
|
||
gameplay, Doom II is destined to be one of the most popular games of the year.
|
||
The graphics, sound effects, and level layout all contribute to a marvelous
|
||
whole, and Doom II: Hell on Earth deserves to become the standard for all new
|
||
arcade titles. At $40 for thirty levels (not to mention the two secret
|
||
levels), its a real steal.
|
||
|
||
Ending (D): While Doom II is more fun than the original, and features better
|
||
graphics and sound, it's just plain more difficult then the original. There
|
||
are tons of enemies, crushing ceilings, and many more devilishly difficult
|
||
features that make Doom II a lot harder than many arcade games on the market;
|
||
but while this may seem to be too difficult, multiple difficulty settings
|
||
(yep, the old "I'm too young to die, etc." settings) let you tailor the
|
||
difficulty to your needs. And, if you have to, you can use the codes as a
|
||
last resort. The ending of Doom II was a let-down, to say the least. Those
|
||
hoping for a 256-color animated sequence or something equally impressive will
|
||
no doubt be disappointed. Instead of one of these, you're treated with a
|
||
background and text, similar to the end of the shareware Doom; the only
|
||
redeeming quality is that after that screen ends, it brings up a screen with a
|
||
monster moving in a stationary place. Press a key, and the monster dies, and
|
||
the next monster comes up. It's pretty neat to watch, but still nothing
|
||
spectacular.
|
||
|
||
Overall (A): When I first saw Doom II, I never though that I would learn to
|
||
like it as much as I did. The scenery in the game is gorgeous, due to the
|
||
excellent 256-color graphics, the sound is great, and the gameplay is the
|
||
most exciting I've ever seen in a game of this type. Add modem/network play,
|
||
and you have an incredible mix that other game designers would be wise to
|
||
imitate.
|
||
|
||
Editor's Note: Thanks again to Paul Pollack for another great article. Look
|
||
for more from Paul 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, or Dr. Duck's BBS (813) 849-3562. Paul is
|
||
also the moderator of the GamePlay Conference on the Board of Trade BBS (813)
|
||
862-4772. You may also wish to visit his home page on the World Wide Web at
|
||
http://www.intol.com/paul/paul.htm.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
|
||
Û Û
|
||
Û DON'T COPY THAT FLOPPY! Û
|
||
Û Û
|
||
Û REPORT SOFTWARE PIRACY! * * * TOLL-FREE HOT LINE! Û
|
||
Û Û
|
||
Û ÜÛ ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ßßßÛ ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ßßßÛ Û Û ßßßÛ ÛßßÛ Û
|
||
Û Û ÜÜ ÛßßÛ Û Û Û Û ÜÜ ßßÛ ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ ÜÜ Û ßßßÛ Û ÛßßÛ Û
|
||
Û ßßß ßßßß ßßßß ßßßß ßßßß ßßßß ßßßß ß ß ß ßßßß Û
|
||
Û Û
|
||
Û Software Publishers Association, 1730 M St, NW, Washington, DC 20036 Û
|
||
Û Û
|
||
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
PBM Flashback - May 1993
|
||
------------------------
|
||
|
||
The May 1993 issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine featured an article titled
|
||
"Shareware Games...A Look Ahead," which looked at some programs due out that
|
||
summer. One of the games was Doom: Evil Unleashed published by id Software.
|
||
With this month's issue carrying a review of the commercial sequel, Doom II:
|
||
Hell on Earth, what better time to reflect on what people were saying about
|
||
Doom prior to its release three years ago. The article included comments from
|
||
Jay Wilbur, Chief Operating Officer at Id Software, and Dan Linton, Sysop of
|
||
Software Creations BBS.
|
||
|
||
Dan Linton says "it makes Wolfenstein look like a High School project." Jay
|
||
Wilbur says it is a little like "Wolfenstein on steroids." What are they
|
||
talking about? Id Software's release of the 3D action game Doom. When asked
|
||
to describe, the game Jay Wilbur states "I just don't know where to begin.
|
||
You play an off duty Space Marine who is guarding an off planet research
|
||
facility. When an experiment goes array, and the very fabric of time and
|
||
space is ripped, demons, or the bad guys are coming in from the other side.
|
||
In Episode One, which will be the Shareware release episode, your job is to
|
||
stop them from coming in. Later episodes will actually take you to the other
|
||
side. It shares the first person perspective as Wolfenstein, but that is
|
||
where it stops. It is just going to be far more complex. Network play, four
|
||
people via a local area network, two people via a serial link or modem link,
|
||
or solo play. It will have tons of traps. Tons more weapons. A true light
|
||
shading. Multiple level floors and ceilings, where in Wolfenstein you had
|
||
only set level, in this you could have cathedral like ceilings and dips in the
|
||
floor and stairways. It runs, I'm going to guess and say, fifty percent
|
||
faster than Wolfenstein, depending of course on your system."
|
||
|
||
Editor's Note: PBM Flashback will appear on a regular basis in future issues.
|
||
Each issue will have this brief look back at some of the features which have
|
||
appeared over the history of the Pasco BBS Magazine.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
P R O G R A M R E V I E W
|
||
|
||
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|
||
³ Program ³ MMTrek Screen Saver ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ Author/Vendor ³ Heiko Tietz ³
|
||
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
|
||
³ Special Requirements ³ Windows, VBRUN200.DLL ³
|
||
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|
||
|
||
MMTrek Screen Saver Review
|
||
--------------------------
|
||
|
||
The MMTrek Screen Saver, written by German author Heiko Tietz, is a screen
|
||
saver for Windows based on the popular television show Star Trek. Every
|
||
fifteen seconds the program displays one of four different animated pictures
|
||
from the show. MMTrek is easy to install and, even if it seems to run a bit
|
||
slow, it is not a bad effort for a program being released as "postcardware."
|
||
|
||
The images displayed include two versions of the starship Enterprise, a Star
|
||
Trek insignia and another starship resembling a Bird of Prey. The program can
|
||
be configured to play a .WAV file at different points during its operation,
|
||
including during the fly-by of a starship. There is also the option of
|
||
setting the "speedfactor" for the animations and the author may add additional
|
||
features if there is a "significant response." The program will run under
|
||
virtually any Windows setup and requires the readily available VBRUN200.DLL,
|
||
which is not included in the download package.
|
||
|
||
While there are no charges for the use of MMTrek, it is not being released as
|
||
Freeware. It is being released as "postcardware", which is sometimes simply
|
||
called "cardware." To continue using the program, after the thirty day
|
||
evaluation period, you must send a postcard to the author.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
*****************************************************************************
|
||
ATTENTION to Details BBS Clint Bradford, KE6LCS - Sysop
|
||
Mira Loma, California BBS (909) 681-6221 BBS
|
||
Excellence...Across the Board!(sm) Voice Support (909) 681-6210
|
||
|
||
Supporting BBS Member: AOP - Association of Online Professionals
|
||
ASP - Association of Shareware Professionals
|
||
EFF - Electronic Frontier Foundation
|
||
ESC - Educational Software Cooperative
|
||
NCSA - National Computer Security Association
|
||
|
||
Message Networks: MustangNet USNet CoveNet Internet
|
||
MysticNet ILink HamRadioNet
|
||
|
||
Official Bulletin Station of the ARRL - American Radio Relay League
|
||
ATTENTION to Details BBS is managed in compliance with the
|
||
AOP and NCSA Codes of Professional Standards
|
||
*****************************************************************************
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Computer Basics
|
||
---------------
|
||
|
||
Written by Ed Garwood, Hudson, FL
|
||
|
||
DID YOU KNOW....?
|
||
|
||
You can have your screen display double width letter? At your C:\ prompt,
|
||
just type Mode 40 and your screen will instantly change. To go back to the
|
||
normal display, just type Mode 80.
|
||
|
||
DID YOU KNOW....?
|
||
|
||
Tired of that black screen with white letters? Like to change it? How about
|
||
bright green letters on a blue background? Sound good?
|
||
|
||
First, check your CONFIG.SYS file to see if it has the ANSI.SYS device listed.
|
||
If not, enter the following line at the end of your CONFIG.SYS file:
|
||
|
||
DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS /X
|
||
|
||
and save your new CONFIG.SYS file. Now, type (EXACTLY) the following at your
|
||
C:\ prompt :
|
||
|
||
Prompt $E[1;44;32m $P Today is $D $P
|
||
|
||
Then press <ENTER> and then type CLS. See if you don't like the display . If
|
||
you don't, then type the following:
|
||
|
||
Prompt $P$G
|
||
|
||
Press <ENTER> and you're back where you started from>
|
||
|
||
DID YOU KNOW......?
|
||
|
||
You can type fractions (or lines, or foreign language letters, etc) without
|
||
changing your keyboard? Want to type the fraction «? First, make sure that
|
||
your NUM LOCK is on (is the light on?). Then, just hold down the <ALT> key
|
||
while you press the numbers 1 7 1 on the numbers keyboard (to your right).
|
||
<ALT> 2 0 6 gives you Î. If you like Greek, <ALT> 2 2 8 will give you ä.
|
||
<ALT> 1 2 9 gives you the German letter <20>. The above are standard ASCII
|
||
control figures. You'll find them in any reference manual, including your
|
||
printer manual.
|
||
|
||
DID YOU KNOW.....? THESE WINDOWS TIPS AND TRICKS
|
||
|
||
(Re-printed from Morgantown, WV's IBM PCUG-PC Expressions Newsletter)
|
||
|
||
To quickly print a file in Windows 3.1, use the new 'drag and drop' technique.
|
||
Once you have Print Manager minimized, simply drag the file icon and drop it
|
||
onto the Print Manager Icon. This technique is usually faster than opening
|
||
the application, opening the file to be printed, and then choosing the
|
||
application's print command to print the file
|
||
|
||
To quickly open a file, drag the file icon and drop it onto the title bar of
|
||
the open application or onto the minimized application icon. The Windows
|
||
operating system automatically loads the file.
|
||
|
||
For a quick switch between open application in Windows, press ALT-TAB. To
|
||
display the icon and name for any open application, repeatedly press the TAB
|
||
key while holding the ALT key down. To open the displayed application,
|
||
release the ALT key.
|
||
|
||
To open a dialog box, listing all the open applications on your system, hold
|
||
down the CTRL key and press ESC. The Task List is handy for closing or
|
||
switching applications.
|
||
|
||
To format a floppy disk faster, use the new Windows File Manager 'Quick
|
||
Format' option. Select FORMAT from the Disk menu in File Manager. The option
|
||
is listed in the dialog box. NOTE: This works ONLY for disks that have been
|
||
previously formatted.
|
||
|
||
Want the same application to open each time you start Windows? Hold down the
|
||
CTRL key while you drag the application icon and drop it on the Startup group
|
||
icon or open group window. When you restart Windows, those programs whose
|
||
icons are displayed in the Startup Group will be launched.
|
||
|
||
To select TruType fonts for your documents, simply look for the TruType icon
|
||
next to the font names listed in your application's font menu. There are
|
||
several families of TruType fonts, including Arial, Courier New, and New Times
|
||
Roman. To customize the fonts used to display information in a File Manager
|
||
Window, select FONT from the Option Menu. This opens a dialog box that lists
|
||
your font display options.
|
||
|
||
To choose from a variety of DESKTOP color schemes, open the Control Panel in
|
||
the MAIN group, and choose the Color icon. A dialog box list the color
|
||
schemes (or choose your own!).
|
||
|
||
Editor's Note: Look for another installment of Computer Basics in next
|
||
month's issue. Ed Garwood may be contacted by leaving a message on the Board
|
||
of Trade BBS at (813) 862-4772. He is also active in the Pasco ComPats
|
||
Computer Club. The club meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month at
|
||
the New Port Richey City Council Chambers at the intersection of Main and
|
||
Madison Streets in New Port Richey, Florida. For more information about the
|
||
Pasco ComPats Computer Club, contact club President Robert Donbar at (813)
|
||
863-3963.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
²²²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²²²²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²²± THE NEWS
|
||
²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²± ²²± ²²± ²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± DIRECTORY
|
||
²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²²±²²± ²²±²± ²²± ²²± ²²²±
|
||
²²± ²²± ²²±²²²²± ²²²²± ²²±²±²²± ²²²± A brief look
|
||
²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²± ²²±²± ²²²²²²²± ²²²± at some of
|
||
²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²²± ²± ²²²±²²²± ²²± ²²± the news of
|
||
²²²²± ²²± ²± ²²± ²²± ²²²²²²²± ²²± ²²± ²²²²± the month
|
||
|
||
CompuServe Inc. launched a new on-line service called "Wow!" on March 25. The
|
||
new service has a heavy emphasis on home use and has intense graphics, news,
|
||
sports, weather, business and entertainment information, e-mail, shopping,
|
||
chat and full Internet access. The software to access the new service
|
||
requires Windows 95 and a CD-ROM drive, with a Macintosh version due out in
|
||
the future. Unlimited access to Wow! is $17.95 per month.
|
||
|
||
The General Accounting Office estimates automating the way the Federal
|
||
Government processes travel expenses could save taxpayers $1 billion annually.
|
||
Some agencies use as many as 39 paper forms.
|
||
|
||
Apple Computer Inc. announced a $700 million loss for the first quarter of
|
||
1996. This comes after a $69 million loss for the last quarter of 1995.
|
||
Writing off unsold products and paying for job cuts created the larger than
|
||
expected loss. In related news, March 31 was the last day for Apple's eWorld
|
||
on-line service.
|
||
|
||
The Internal Revenue Service decided not to provide on-line tax return filing,
|
||
known as Cyberfile, for 1995 taxes. A new system was going to allow taxpayers
|
||
to file returns directly with the IRS on the World Wide Web in selected areas
|
||
this Spring. However, security concerns and technical problems made it
|
||
impossible to offer the service for this tax season.
|
||
|
||
The Smithsonian Institution, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, is
|
||
planning to expand the information available on their home page on the World
|
||
Wide Web (http://www.si.edu). Within the next couple of years, they hope to
|
||
make over 100,000 items viewable on the Internet. While the institution's
|
||
Washington DC based museum can only display about one-seventh of its
|
||
collection at any one time, it is possible that some day everything could be
|
||
exhibited on-line. At the present time, the Web site explains current
|
||
displays, shows pictures hanging in the museums and describes upcoming events.
|
||
|
||
Rumors are circulating that MicroSoft, Inc. is planning to release an updated
|
||
version of the Windows operating system during 1996. Before Windows 95 was
|
||
released it was known as "Chicago." Windows 96 is rumored to be nicknamed
|
||
"Nashville."
|
||
|
||
"WEB.X -- The Internet Event for Business" is shaping up as one of the major
|
||
on-line related events for 1996. The show, which is being held concurrently
|
||
with the PC Expo, will take place June 18-20 at the Jacob Javits Convention
|
||
Center in New York City and September 24-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
|
||
For further information on WEB.X contact Jangliw N. Sang of Blenheim Group
|
||
USA, Inc. at (800) 829-3976.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
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 telenet: sanctum.com º
|
||
º º
|
||
º READ THE PASCO BBS MAGAZINE AT: http://www.sanctum.com/pasco º
|
||
º º
|
||
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
BBS Basics: High Speed Transfers, Line Noise, Etc.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
What follows is not intended to be a technical discussion on high speed
|
||
modems, but tries to answer some commonly asked questions. The new user, and
|
||
the expert alike, may ask why file transfers are slow at 14,400 baud and
|
||
above.
|
||
|
||
Line noise over common telephone wires has been a problem since the first
|
||
modems made their connection. For years it was said that 2400 bps was as fast
|
||
as normal telephone lines could transmit data and that we would never see
|
||
faster speeds due to the low band-width and high noise levels. Modem
|
||
technology has advanced over the years, but line noise is not a thing of the
|
||
past. Unfortunately, it is still with us. These new modems are not magic
|
||
either. They manage to hide the line noise, and some are able to filter it
|
||
out, but it is still there.
|
||
|
||
If line noise occurs during the connection process, where your modem and the
|
||
host modem perform their hand-shaking sequence looking for common ground, then
|
||
it is very likely that the two modems will agree to a slower speed to avoid
|
||
having problems during the remainder of the call. In fact, if line noise
|
||
occurs during the call the modems may decide to shift down at that time as
|
||
well. When line noise occurs during a file transfer between two modems which
|
||
have established an error correction session, the only evidence of this line
|
||
noise may very well be slow file transfers and nothing else. Many modems give
|
||
no other indications this extra work is being required, and may eventually
|
||
give up and just drop the carrier completely.
|
||
|
||
If you find that downloading ASCII files produces excellent file transfers
|
||
rates, but downloading Zip files reduces the rate, then very likely you have
|
||
turned on an option known as "data compression." It is like trying to use
|
||
PKZip to zip a Zip file. In its attempt to shrink the file, it actually
|
||
causes the file to expand in size and this slows down the file transfer.
|
||
|
||
For high speed file transfers to work you generally want to use some type of
|
||
flow control. If your modem or software is not set up correctly, it is
|
||
possible that flow control problems will result in errors. When data is lost
|
||
due to flow control problems there is only one solution and that is to send
|
||
the data again. This results in slowing down your file transfer.
|
||
|
||
Choosing the right file transfer protocol is important and Xmoden is not
|
||
always appropriate at high speeds. Zmodem has the ability to re-send the last
|
||
block of data while other protocols, such as Ymodem/G, have no way to request
|
||
that data be resent, so the transfer is aborted. Ymodem/G is one of the
|
||
fastest, but Zmodem is more dependable.
|
||
|
||
And if all that is not enough, it seems like certain times of the year
|
||
introduce more line noise on the phone lines than others. Some causes of line
|
||
noise are wet ground conditions, which introduces electrical changes in the
|
||
phone company's lines. Increased traffic on the telephone lines leads to
|
||
increased noise. Some of the worst conditions can occur on local calls, as
|
||
local circuits seldom receive the maintenance attention given to long distance
|
||
circuits.
|
||
|
||
There are a few hardware options which can reduce the errors in high speed
|
||
transfers. The easiest is to make sure that all your connections are clean.
|
||
Dirty or corroded connections will obviously have a negative impact on your
|
||
results. Another is to make sure that your phone line is grounded. This not
|
||
only helps reduce line noise, but may save your equipment in the event the
|
||
phone lines becomes electrically charged. For example, it is possible for a
|
||
lightning strike to come through the phone line. Some surge protectors have a
|
||
built-in port to plug the phone line into and most electronics stores have a
|
||
device, which plugs into an electrical outlet, to ground the phone line. If
|
||
your computer is a few years old, you may have to install a new serial card
|
||
with a 16550A UART chip. This high speed communications port is a requirement
|
||
for 28,800 baud file transfers. Most of the newer computers have these high
|
||
speed UART chips installed.
|
||
|
||
So what else can you do about line noise? You can contact your local phone
|
||
company. Sometimes the phone company does find a correctable problem. Using
|
||
high quality software and equipment can hide some of the problems. Or you
|
||
could move to France where fiber optic telecommunications is a reality.
|
||
|
||
Editor's Note: BBS Basics is a menu driven database of information for the
|
||
new BBS user. Version 2.1 of the Freeware program can be found on better BBSs
|
||
everywhere. As BBS Basics is updated for the next version, the articles will
|
||
be published first in the Pasco BBS Magazine. Next month there will be an
|
||
article, which will include a brief history of the computerized bulletin
|
||
board, titled "What is a BBS?"
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
ROTFL!
|
||
------
|
||
|
||
Computer humor courtesy of Sandy Illes
|
||
|
||
Top Ten Ways to Know Your Life is the Most Pathetically Boring One on Earth
|
||
|
||
Written and Copyrighted by Sandy Illes
|
||
|
||
10. In the school yearbook, the inscription under your name said "Least
|
||
likely to be wearing clean underwear."
|
||
|
||
9. You've memorized the TV Guide.
|
||
|
||
8. You cheat playing Solitaire.
|
||
|
||
7. Your bowel movements make the front page of the local paper.
|
||
|
||
6. The only mail you receive is addressed to "Occupant."
|
||
|
||
5. Your blooms-once-in-a-lifetime plant bloomed while you were in the
|
||
bathroom.
|
||
|
||
4. Your relatives don't talk to you but they think you look vaguely
|
||
familiar.
|
||
|
||
3. You once took a bath but the police made you put it back.
|
||
|
||
2. You dry your hair by hanging it on the clothesline. <ouch>
|
||
|
||
1. Aliens are in contact with your pet but they won't bother talking to you.
|
||
|
||
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. ROTFL Digest! is published by Access Media Systems, which may be
|
||
contacted at (905) 847-7143, or (905) 847-7362. You may also email Sandy
|
||
Illes at sandyi@pathcom.com, or visit their home page on the World Wide Web at
|
||
http://www.pathcom.com/~sandyi.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
EFF Quote of the Month
|
||
----------------------
|
||
|
||
"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."
|
||
|
||
- Harry S. Truman on clandestine government From "Plain Speaking: An Oral
|
||
Biography of Harry S Truman," Merle Miller, 1974, ch. 23
|
||
|
||
Editor's Note: 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.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Favorite Taglines
|
||
-----------------
|
||
|
||
Some bulletin boards and off-line mail readers are set-up to add taglines
|
||
to network type messages. This is typically done to add a humorous thought
|
||
onto the message. The Pasco BBS Magazine will on occasion run some of our
|
||
favorite taglines found while browsing the local nets.
|
||
|
||
Picked up this stupid tagline at a BBS Convention.
|
||
|
||
OK joke's over! Where's President Bush?
|
||
|
||
Press any key... Hey! Not that one! NO!!!!! <(*+#^)% NO CARRIER
|
||
|
||
Ensign Clampett? He's Jed, Jim!
|
||
|
||
Too much free time? Become a Sysop ...
|
||
|
||
Most political jokes get elected.
|
||
|
||
I am going to live forever, or die trying!
|
||
|
||
This score just in: Deep Space 9, Babylon 5.
|
||
|
||
Myth #1: "The Computer only does what you tell it."
|
||
|
||
BEEP: This is a test of the Emergency Tagline System.
|
||
|
||
Pro is to Con as Progress is to Congress.
|
||
|
||
Excuse me for butting in, but I'm interrupt driven.
|
||
|
||
Stop while you're a Thread ...
|
||
|
||
System Halted. Press any key to do nothing.
|
||
|
||
Politicians and diapers should be changed often for the same reasons.
|
||
|
||
Yer motherboard wear combat reboots!
|
||
|
||
I can't remember which taglines are stolen and which I wrote!
|
||
|
||
If Clinton is the answer, the question must be stupid.
|
||
|
||
Sysoping: It's not just an adventure, it's a job.
|
||
|
||
Jim, any seats left? There's SPACE in the FINAL FRONT TIER.
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Cleveland BBS Lawsuit, In Response to the Raids
|
||
-----------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Father & Son Computer Users Fight Back: Cincinnati Electronic Bulletin Board
|
||
System Users File Class Action Lawsuit Against Simon Leis & Computer Task
|
||
Force (Press Release of 3/6/96)
|
||
|
||
A father and son filed a class action lawsuit today in federal court against
|
||
Sheriff Simon L. Leis, Jr., and other law enforcement officials. On August
|
||
31, 1995, members of the Hamilton County Regional Electronic Computer
|
||
Intelligence Task Force (RECI) raided the West Chester home of Michael O'Brien
|
||
and seized his personal computer system. O'Brien's son Noah, a 15 year old
|
||
sophomore at Indian Hill High School, ran a computer bulletin board system
|
||
called "Spanish Inquisition" from his father's computer.
|
||
|
||
The police raid took everything on the O'Briens' computer and its bulletin
|
||
board system, including all the private electronic mail and work product of
|
||
the users. This is the second user class action challenging a government
|
||
seizure of computer material. Both actions have arisen out of the activities
|
||
of Sheriff Leis and the RECI Task Force. According to the search warrant used
|
||
to justify the raid, the Task Force was seeking computer image files and
|
||
"hacker" information on a system that contained thousands of public and
|
||
private messages.
|
||
|
||
Noah & his father, an engineering manager, represent a class of hundreds of
|
||
users of the Spanish Inquisition electronic bulletin board. Mr. O'Brien uses
|
||
the computer system to send and receive electronic mail and to do work
|
||
projects at home; his son ran the bulletin board system, sent & received
|
||
e-mail, and authored computer programs and artwork.
|
||
|
||
The lawsuit claims that the wholesale seizure of the computer bulletin board
|
||
system violated the users' constitutional right to free speech and
|
||
association, and that the seizure of their private e-mail, public messages,
|
||
and materials intended for publication violated their right to privacy and
|
||
federal law.
|
||
|
||
"The Task Force used a drift net to troll for a tiny amount of supposed
|
||
'cyberporn' and 'hacker' tools," said Cincinnati civil rights lawyer Scott T.
|
||
Greenwood, who represents the plaintiffs. "In the process, they netted an
|
||
enormous amount of entirely irrelevant material, and shut down a
|
||
constitutionally-protected forum for speech and association."
|
||
|
||
Greenwood added, "This seizure was doubly outrageous. It came on the heels of
|
||
the first suit filed against the very same defendants for the same type of
|
||
constitutional violations. Whether the sheriff and our local 'Internet
|
||
police' like it or not, the Bill of Rights is not optional just because they
|
||
don't like it or understand it. Shutting down a computer system and seizing
|
||
people's private communications turns the First Amendment on its head."
|
||
|
||
The lawsuit claims that Sheriff Leis and the Task Force violated the First
|
||
Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, several provisions of the federal Electronic
|
||
Communications Privacy Act of 1986, the First Amendment Privacy Protection Act
|
||
of 1980, and Ohio common law privacy rights, and seeks actual damages,
|
||
statutory damages, and punitive damages on behalf of the lead plaintiffs and
|
||
the entire class.
|
||
|
||
Copies of the complaint are currently available by e-mail, and will also be
|
||
available later on a website. The first user class action's website may be
|
||
found at http://www.iac.net/ccc.
|
||
|
||
Contact Information:
|
||
|
||
Scott T. Greenwood, Attorney
|
||
Greenwood & Associates
|
||
2301 Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street
|
||
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
||
Internet: stgrnwd@iac.net
|
||
(513) 684-0101 (voice)
|
||
(513) 684-0077 (fax)
|
||
|
||
(Reprinted Courtesy Computer underground Digest)
|
||
|
||
+ + + + +
|
||
|
||
Online Parental Control Act
|
||
---------------------------
|
||
|
||
Eshoo Introduces Online Parental Control Act - Legislation Strengthens
|
||
Parental Control Of Online Materials, Eliminates "Indecency" Standard (Press
|
||
Release of March 14, 1996)
|
||
|
||
Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) today introduced the Online
|
||
Parental Control Act of 1996 (OPCA) to strengthen the control parents have
|
||
over their children's access to online materials, eliminate the "indecency"
|
||
standard from the Communications Act of 1934, and provide additional defenses
|
||
against liability for publishing online materials. Representatives Pelosi (D-
|
||
CA), Dellums (D-CA), Farr (D-CA), Gejdenson (D-CT), and Woolsey (D-CA) are
|
||
original cosponsors of OPCA.
|
||
|
||
When the Telecommunications Reform Bill was signed into law earlier this year,
|
||
it made sweeping changes to America's telecommunications policy. Among those
|
||
changes was the establishment of a ban on using telecommunications devices to
|
||
provide "indecent" materials to minors, as well as defenses against being held
|
||
liable for a violation of that ban. For example, people could avoid liability
|
||
by using software that blocks the access of minors to such materials or
|
||
restricts access through the use of credit card numbers or adult access codes.
|
||
Some U.S. Representatives, including Rep. Eshoo, opposed the "indecency"
|
||
standard because the range of material it would ban was so broad that it
|
||
violates the right to freedom of speech.
|
||
|
||
The "indecency" standard is currently being challenged in court by a large
|
||
coalition of free speech advocacy groups and high technology companies.
|
||
|
||
"The Online Parental Control Act will encourage an open dialogue in Congress
|
||
about the best way to both give parents control over what their children see
|
||
online and protect the First Amendment rights of Internet users," said Rep.
|
||
Eshoo. "My proposal builds on last year's efforts to reach a compromise on
|
||
this issue by offering more incentives for the online community to provide
|
||
families with better parental control technologies.
|
||
|
||
"I'm supportive of efforts to address this issue in the courts, but I believe
|
||
Congress also needs to offer a legislative solution. Given the political
|
||
realities of the current Congress, I think OPCA offers the most realistic way
|
||
to settle this dispute in a timely and effective manner."
|
||
|
||
The Online Parental Control Act of 1996:
|
||
|
||
Replaces the "indecency" standard with a "harmful to minors" standard;
|
||
Establishes a definition for "harmful to minors;" Maintains the Communications
|
||
Act of 1934's legal defenses against liability for people who choose to give
|
||
parents technology that: 1) blocks or restricts access to online materials
|
||
deemed obscene or harmful to minors, and 2) restricts access to such materials
|
||
through adult access codes or credit card numbers; Adds two new defenses: 1)
|
||
the use of labeling or segregating systems to restrict access to online
|
||
materials, such as systems developed using the standards designed by the
|
||
Platform for Internet Content Selection project (PICS), and 2) the use of
|
||
other systems that serve the same function of the other defenses if they are
|
||
as reasonable, effective, and appropriate as blocking, adult access code, and
|
||
labeling technologies; and Protects providers or users of interactive computer
|
||
services, information content providers, and access software providers from
|
||
civil or criminal liability under state law for making available to minors
|
||
materials that are indecent or harmful to minors if they take actions to
|
||
qualify for the defenses mentioned above.
|
||
|
||
"I'd rather have Mom and Dad monitoring their children's online viewing habits
|
||
than the government," concluded Rep. Eshoo. "Technology offers the best
|
||
opportunity for parents to manage what their kids have access to, and the
|
||
Online Parental Control Act encourages those technologies to be developed more
|
||
fully."
|
||
|
||
The "indecency" standard is a vague term that has been subject to legal
|
||
challenge by a wide range of free speech advocates and high technology
|
||
companies. The broad nature of the "indecency" standard means that it could
|
||
lead to a prohibition on material such as classic art like Michelangelo's
|
||
David, classic literature like "Catcher In The Rye," and frank discussions
|
||
about birth control, sexuality, or disease transmission. "Harmful to minors,"
|
||
on the other hand, already works successfully in 48 states, more directly
|
||
addresses speech that actually harms children, and passes constitutional
|
||
muster.
|
||
|
||
PICS is a cross-industry working group assembled under the auspices of MIT's
|
||
World Wide Web Consortium to develop an easy-to-use content labeling and
|
||
selection platform that empowers people worldwide to selectively control
|
||
online content they receive through personal computers. The Recreational
|
||
Software Advisory Council recently announced that it will soon implement a
|
||
detailed voluntary ratings system, using PICS standards, that will let
|
||
computer users filter out varying degrees of sex, violence, nudity, and foul
|
||
language. Companies and groups supporting PICS include Apple, America Online,
|
||
AT&T, the Center for Democracy and Technology, CompuServe, IBM, France
|
||
Telecom, Prodigy, Providence Systems/Parental Guidance, Surf Watch Software,
|
||
and Time Warner Pathfinder.
|
||
|
||
For more information about the Online Parental Control Act of 1996, please
|
||
contact Lewis Roth at (202) 225-8104 or look on the Internet at http://www-
|
||
eshoo.house.gov/opca.html.
|
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(Reprinted Courtesy Computer underground Digest)
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°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
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² ²
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² Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida ²
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² ²
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² (813) 862-4772 12/24/48/96/144/28800 baud ²
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||
² ²
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² The Hobby BBS for the Entire Family! ²
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||
² ²
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² Pasco County's Information Source ²
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||
² Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine, DA BUCS and BBS Basics ²
|
||
² ²
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||
² Call here FIRST for the BEST in Shareware ²
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||
² Official Distribution Site: ²
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||
² Alive Software, Apogee Software, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, ²
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||
² Id Software, Impulse Software, MVP Software, Safari Software, ²
|
||
² Software Creations, Soleau Software and Union Logic Software ²
|
||
² ²
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||
² Supporting the Local Computer Community ²
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||
² Local Author Support File Directory ²
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||
² Official Support BBS for Pasco ComPats Computer Club ²
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||
² ²
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||
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
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Next Month
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----------
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Since June 1 is the beginning of the 1996 Hurricane Season, the June issue of
|
||
the Pasco BBS Magazine will take a look at some of the hurricane tracking
|
||
programs available in the on-line world. Here in Florida, we are certainly
|
||
hoping that the predictions for a less active season are accurate. There will
|
||
also be an article on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's home page on
|
||
the World Wide Web. The updating of BBS Basics will continue with "What is a
|
||
BBS," which will include a brief history of the computerized bulletin board.
|
||
Game guru Paul Pollack will have part one of a two part article on designing
|
||
your own levels for id Software's popular game of Heretic. All the latest
|
||
news, and the rest of our regular features, will be included as well.
|
||
|
||
The June issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine will be available on, or before, May
|
||
22. Make sure you do not miss a single issue of Tampa Bay's oldest free on-
|
||
line magazine!
|
||
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||
+ + + + +
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||
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 1996 Richard Ziegler - All Rights Reserved
|
||
|
||
+ + + + + |