ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º ɼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û º ɼ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÛ Û º º ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º º º º ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º Éͼ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û º ɼ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º º º 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 ɼ Û Û Û Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÜÛßÜÛÛÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ Û ÛÜß Û Û ÜÜÜÛÜ º ɼ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÍÍ» º January 1994 Volume 2 Number 1 º ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ º Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida (813) 862-4772 º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ In This Issue ------------- þ Special First Anniversary Issue, A Year of the Pasco BBS Magazine þ Exclusive interview with British Shareware author Graham Cluley þ A look back at some special features, and much more! + + + + + Editor's Welcome ---------------- Over a year of doing the Pasco BBS Magazine! Geez, sometimes it seems like ten years. So much has happened and so many words have been written. It is hard to believe what a year this has been. The way I ramble on in this issue, you would think I discovered a cure for cancer or something. But, I feel more like the proud father talking about how successful his child has become. There is an article that pretty much tells how the magazine has reached the current level of success. I do not hold back anything, or claim these are secrets that only I know. While I hold the copyright on anything that is printed, and how it is presented, I cannot claim any copyright on how I obtain information. I also really do not believe that telling all will lead to an explosion of new competitors, as few would be willing to put in the work to really make it happen. Things tend to evolve, so I may be using different methods soon anyway. If there are more, higher quality on-line magazines because I have told how I did it, that is great too. There is more than enough room for us all to enjoy our hobbies! There is much in this issue on the first year of the Pasco BBS Magazine, and about the future. There have also been some minor changes in the magazine's distribution procedures which are discussed in this issue. To keep this issue from seeming like one long Editor's Welcome there is also an exclusive interview with British Shareware author Graham Cluley. This all makes for a very Special First Anniversary Issue. The only thing left to say is thank you. Thank You!! + + + + + ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ³ ³ Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Sites ³ ³ ---------------------------------------------- ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ February Tele Com BBS Zephyrhills, FL (813) 783-9926 ³ ³ Night City South Lutz, FL (813) 949-5751 ³ ³ Pegboard BBS Clearwater, FL (813) 596-7148 ³ ³ March Software Creations BBS Clinton, MA (508) 365-2359 ³ ³ May Phoenix BBS Valparaiso, FL (904) 651-4423 ³ ³ BirdLand BBS Largo, FL (813) 596-9239 ³ ³ Twilight BBS St. Petersburg, FL (813) 323-6023 ³ ³ June Attention to Details Mira Loma, CA (909) 681-6221 ³ ³ Snowshoe BBS Snowshoe, WV (304) 572-2531 ³ ³ July Mulligan's Place BBS Mundelein, IL (708) 566-6183 ³ ³ The Great Beyond BBS South Bend, IN (219) 233-8854 ³ ³ August InnerZone BBS Tampa, FL (813) 238-0707 ³ ³ ArrowHead BBS West Palm Beach, FL (407) 833-0878 ³ ³ September SeaScape BBS Morehead City, NC (919) 726-9364 ³ ³ October Xenakis BBS United Kingdom +44 933 460744 ³ ³ November Odyssey Systems Oshawa, Ontario (905) 579-9241 ³ ³ December The Last Shekel BBS Shiller Park, IL (708) 671-9263 ³ ³ Galaxy BBS Daleville, AL (205) 598-9509 ³ ³ The Laser BBS Cortlandt Manor, NY (914) 734-7045 ³ ³ January The Bit Bucket System Allentown, PA (215) 391-0185 ³ ³ Night Moves BBS Baton Rouge, LA (504) 927-6492 ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ + + + + + One Year of the Pasco BBS Magazine ---------------------------------- The Pasco BBS Magazine has done something that few on-line magazines have accomplished, released a First Anniversary Issue. There are two ways I could go with this article. One, make it primarily a fluff piece talking about the great articles we have run and be purely self serving. Or, lay all the cards on the table and tell everything which has brought the magazine to this level of success. Since information is worthless if not shared, the choice was easy. I hope people will enjoy reading about how the magazine has beaten the odds, and it should be very interesting to anyone who has undertaken such an effort in the past or is considering doing their own on-line magazine. It was just over a year ago that I began kicking around the idea of starting a monthly BBS magazine. Why would someone even consider such a thing when the past track record of such publications is horrible? The typical on-line magazine lasts a few issues and disappears before most people even know that it existed. One reason is that many of these efforts left much to be desired. The last thing I want to sound like is my magazine is great and all others are junk, after all I notice typos and such in the Pasco BBS Magazine too. But, most of the magazines were primarily recycled text files and original writings were full of spelling and grammatical errors. Many of the magazines found on- line are nothing more than glorified ads for a particular BBS, and die a quick death because they are nothing but self-serving and offer little that someone else would actually want to read. I hoped to learn from others mistakes and put together a quality publication that would last over the long run. Another reason is to increase the exposure of my own bulletin board, the Board of Trade BBS. Obviously, these reasons alone are not enough to motivate someone over the long run. I looked at it as a hobby, and as something I would enjoy doing. That was the key to all future accomplishments. I knew that unless the magazine had some quality original features, and did a better job in the proofreading department, it would die a quick death. The first thing I wanted to do was obtain a "name" interview for the premiere issue. This would open some eyes and get the magazine off to a good start. This was where I got my first introduction to the hassles of doing a monthly magazine. I attempted to get an interview with a BBS game door author and uploaded some questions to his BBS. The uploading of questions was used at first, as seemed to be the easiest way to get interviews done. There was absolutely no response from this author, not even the courtesy to say "no thank you." This has happened again since then and I cannot believe that some people can run a business with so little concern for public relations. I should note that on the whole most people in this business have proven to be most helpful, but there will be more on that later. So after the initial rejection, I began to think that maybe this was not such as good idea. The Pasco BBS Magazine was close to death before it was even born. I decided to try again and called Nels Anderson's board and left a message asking if he had any interest in being interviewed for the first issue of a new BBS magazine in Florida. When Nels Anderson responded that he would love to be interviewed, the magazine had it's name interview for the first issue. The next step was to talk to a couple of people involved in BBSing at the local level, without tipping my hand too much, to see if they would be interested in helping with a new BBS magazine. While their help has proved to be sporadic, it was enough to ensure the birth of the Pasco BBS Magazine. I also talked to a couple of people who had attempted such efforts in the past. One told me that it would be much easier if I used text files, after all there are thousands of files floating around in the BBS world. The magazine has featured a few text files over the first year, but like I said that was not the way I wanted to go with this magazine. Another told me that he did a magazine for three months, but felt no one was reading it and gave it up. I went into this realizing that the reaction would be slow and that for every person who commented on the magazine there were many who had just read it, deleted it and moved on to something else. Another told me that I should realize that I would get no help with the magazine. While admittedly the level of help has been disappointing overall, I have received some wonderful pieces from several different people. All of them said doing a magazine or newsletter was fun for awhile, but none of the people I had talked to had released more than a few issues. Despite all the doom-sayers the first issue was released the day after Christmas 1992. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° 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 Bytor Computer Systems, Inc. presents the PC Help Forum ² ² ² ² (813) 862-4772 12/24/48/96/14400 baud ² ² ² ² Member of... ² ² Electronic Frontiers Foundation and American BBS Association ² ² Official Distribution Site for the following: Alive Software, ² ² Apogee Software, Digital Reality, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, ² ² MVP Software, Software Creations and Westcoast 813 BBS Directory ² ² BBS Voice Line (813) 863-5886 ² °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° The reaction was as anticipated, should I say modest? A couple of people left messages on my BBS that made it all worth while. Then another lesson was learned, no matter how carefully you proofread something there will be mistakes. And what a mistake to make. After Nels Anderson had been so gracious to agree to be interviewed, I had his BBS telephone number wrong in the article. I really felt bad, but also quickly realized that things like this would happen again. So, welcome to the world of running corrections. The idea of having Official Pasco BBS Distribution Sites was introduced in the first issue. The first issue said that the idea was to have several boards in Pasco County, so that readers would not have to call long distance to get a copy of the magazine. Boy was I thinking small! To this day some say that I need to change the name of the magazine, and that no one will want to be a Distribution Site for a "local" magazine. That has proven to be a falsehood, but more on that later. I had uploaded the magazine to numerous Tampa Bay boards and several popular boards through out the country. Soon a call came from a Sysop from a neighboring county who wanted to be a Distribution Site. I had originally intended to begin listing Distribution Sites in the March or April issue, thinking that it would start very slow. I left a message on a Pasco County board located in another dialing area and a board in different neighboring county asking if they would like to become Distribution Sites. Both Sysops responded in the affirmative, and when another Tampa Bay area Sysop requested to become a Site, the February issue was released with four Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Sites not including the home board. I only knew Dan Linton as the Sysop of the Software Creations BBS in Massachusetts and as the author of a couple of Shareware programs. I thought he would be a great subject for an interview and went the uploading questions route to obtain an interview for the March issue. Dan left a message suggesting I call him voice to do the interview. Later he said that he thought I had uploaded some great questions, but that to answer them would take quite a bit of typing. I gave him a call and as it turned out he was quite busy getting ready to go on vacation, but he did take my call. We talked for a few minutes and discussed doing the interview when he got back from vacation. Out of the blue Dan suggested that we get together while he was in Florida and that way I could write I had interviewed him in person. I said I really do not want to impose on somebody during their vacation. He said he loved meeting people from the boards. Wow! He got out his itinerary and a date was set for the interview. Dan called right on schedule, and suggested that he and his wife drive up to Pasco County and we could have dinner. It was a wonderful dinner, and afterwards, it was a great interview. Dan even agreed to become the first Distribution Site from another state, which gave, and continues to give, the magazine a wide distribution. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- Software Creations BBS -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º º - Dedicated to the Development and Distribution of GREAT Software - º º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Home of the Authors" ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º º * Software Creations Voted #1 BBS for 1993 * º º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º º 1200/2400 V.42/MNP Lines : (508) 365-2359 º º 2400-14.4k HST USR Robotics Lines : (508) 368-4137 º º 2400-14.4k V.32/V.42bis Twincom Lines: (508) 368-7036 º º * Software Creations BBS continues to bring you the Best of the Best * º º Member of the Worcester County Sysops Association º º Clinton, Massachusetts Sysop: Dan Linton º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I had found out that voice was the way to go with the interviews, and for the most part have done so ever since. The thing about doing the interviews over the phone is that it is much easier for the person being interviewed. It is considerably more work on my end, since interviewees will have much more to say by voice than if they type it themselves. The whole thing also seems to flow much better and it makes for a improved interview. From this point on, most of the possible interviewees were given the option of having me call them, or the uploading of questions if they preferred. I would explain in the message that it would only take about twenty minutes of their time, but some of the phone calls lasted over an hour. When someone gets talking about something they love doing, they can go on for quite awhile. Not only was it interesting and educational to talk to some of the biggest names in this business, but it was a lot of fun. Everything was going quite well and the May issue named three more Distribution Sites in Florida. When you do a magazine you have to look ahead for timely stories for future issues. One thing I had thought of early on was doing an article on the very popular game Wolfenstein 3D one year after it was first released. I talked over the phone with Jay Wilbur of Id Software and Joe Siegler of Apogee Software in preparation for the story which ran in the May issue. It turned out to be a popular feature and over the next two months boards from four more states had signed up to become Distribution Sites. It never ceases to amaze me when I call the Distribution Sites and see the Sysop has the magazine displayed on his board better than I do on the home board. Or when a Sysop from Indiana tells me that someone uploaded the magazine file to his broad, and that he thought it was the best thing he ever saw and printed out a copy. As I said before, recognition is slow in coming, but a few comments like that does help maintain the energy to continue. By summer, comments and calls were coming in from all other the country. It quickly got to the point that it was hard to keep up with requests to become Distribution Sites, and several Sysops no doubt got lost in the shuffle. I made some changes in the way Distribution Sites were named to make it easier on both myself and the applying Sysops. There is more on the distribution in a separate article in this issue. The magazine seemed to be out of control. I had become the home board for Shadoware and some Windows' programming tips were run under the name ShadowNotes. Through Dan Linton I met Dave White of the CyberScape BBS who was doing live interviews with BBS personalities in the Chat Conference on his BBS. The Best of CyberScape LIVE! was run in the Pasco BBS Magazine. It now seemed that I had some regular features which I would not have to write personally, so the future seemed amazing bright. The issues were getting huge, more than I had ever imagined. Unfortunately, both of these features only lasted a few issues. It is hard to expect people to write something every month, since almost everybody involved in the BBS/Shareware business is incredibly busy. This is a free publication, so there is no monetary compensation for anyone who contributes. I do what I can with ads and by- lines, but that is all that can be done. As I write this now, I am still surprised at how seldom someone will get in touch or write something for the magazine. At this point the magazine is distributed literally all over the world. Why don't more Shareware authors, network administrators or whatever get in touch. I wish I knew. I know that few consider the marketing aspect of their product, which is why there are so many here today, gone tomorrow companies. There is more about writing something for the magazine in an article on the future of the Pasco BBS Magazine in this issue. August was the ONE BBSCON '93 which lead to several articles in several issues, including a great piece written by Clint Bradford who ran the Association of Shareware Professional booth at the convention. Clint is a Distribution Site in California and has helped out with the magazine on several occasions. He even put some fliers together about the magazine to pass out at the BBS convention. The amount of help he has been is quite rare. Ever wonder why some boards have an ad in every issue, while others have to rotate ads with the other Distribution Sites? Well, those who help with the magazine get special consideration on ads. As much help as Clint has been I do not think I would ever publish an issue without an ad for his board. In any case, the BBSCON was a great experience. It helped to strengthen contacts in the BBS world in addition to generating some articles which I particularly enjoyed. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° °°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°°°°°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°° °°°º ATTENTION to Details RyBBS º°°°°°°°º BOARDWATCH Magazine On-Line º°°° °°°º BBS Excellence... º°°°°°°°º BBS LEGAL GUIDE Dist. Site º°°° °°°º Across the Board! (sm) º°°°°°°°º MEMBER: The Electronic º°°° °°°º Clint Bradford - Sysop º°°°°°°°º Frontier Foundation, Inc. º°°° °°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°°°°°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°° °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° °°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°° °°°º Line 1: Hayes OPTIMA v.32 909/681-6221 Line 2: USR Courier HST º°°° °°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°° °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° °°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°° °°°º This authorized RyBBS Distribution Site is continuously monitored º°°° °°°º by McAfee's ViruScan and Xtree Co.'s ViruSafe v4.6. º°°° °°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°° °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° °°°°ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»°°°° °°°°º Official HUB BBS for the Association of Shareware Professionals º°°°° °°°°ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ°°°° °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° By fall the magazine had an international list of Distribution Sites. Dylan Harris of the Xenakis BBS in the United Kingdom signed on, as did Odyssey Systems in Canada. Many more boards would have been named as Distribution Sites, but a good number of Sysops had filled out the questionnaire then never called back to see if they were accepted. I thought I had made it so simple, just fill out a questionnaire and you will be notified by message within 24 hours of your acceptance. If someone never called back I never followed up on their request, as my days of chasing down Distribution Sites are over. One thing that I never considered a year ago was that there would be more Distribution Sites than advertising space. In that first issue I ran an ad for a friend who runs a firearms store, just to have more ads. I even told him I would run the ad a few times, but with Distribution Sites being named so quickly I never did have to run it again. The growth of the magazine has lead to some difficult decisions about who's ad to run, but most of the Distribution Site Sysops must be understanding since no one has complained. I have tried to be fair, and to reward those who have been the most help. I am also a little surprised that no one has inquired about paying for an ad. I have seen how much some other publications charge for ads, and with not nearly the wide distribution of the Pasco BBS Magazine. By November I was spoiled. I had not had to leave any messages on a BBS, in an attempt to get interviews, in six months. I seemed to be falling into stories. One interview resulted from calls to my board, a Shareware author uploaded a registered copy of his program for me to evaluate, or a new Distribution Site had something interesting to write about. The explosion of information from ONE BBSCON '93 made the October and November issues fly by. In my mind there was little left to prove. I was wrong. What is always left to prove is that you can keep it going. Many people have done excellent on-line magazines of superior quality to this. Some people have managed to celebrate a "first anniversary." Few free magazines have been able to keep it going. There are some magazines that have survived for some time primarily on text files and extractions from message bases. The longest running on-line publications are probably BBS lists, since most of the text does not have to be rewritten each month the chances of survival are much greater. Maybe a good article would be on some of the longest running on-line publications, but it would be incredibly difficult to research any statistics. How about this? Any editor from a free on-line magazine or newsletter, which has been around for over a year and has come out at least every month, send along a write-up and I will run it this magazine. We will see what happens. For the December issue I went back to the uploading questions procedure to get an interview. The interview did not work out, and after having delayed the release of the issue until the last possible minute, the December issue was run without a major feature article. This was really the first time that something like this had happened, and I wrote in the Editor's Welcome that luck had been with us to that point. But luck had nothing to do with the magazine's success. The truth is in the old adage that luck is a result of preparation. If you want to have a successful on-line magazine you must be working ahead, working on more than one issues at a time, and have backup features incase there is a problem. There is no such thing as taking a week off before starting on the next issue. These are lessons that all publishers learn, and will relearn if they become complacent. It is painfully true that you are only as good as your last issue. The sad truth is that writing a magazine does not get easier as time goes on, since now you have the expectations factor to worry about. If your magazine is just a few days late, people will begin to wonder if your publication has run its course. If you want take an on-line magazine to the level of having international distribution, you have to change your mind-set. There may not be a deadline for getting the magazine to the printers, but if the magazine is not released on some sort of schedule you will lose the credibility you have worked so hard to build. There have been magazines which have survived despite an erratic release schedule, but that is all they have done, survive. Sure, people realize that the magazine is being done primarily by one person, a person who still has to go to work at their real job and has all the time consuming commitments that we all do, but the bottom line is they really do not care. Unfortunately, in our society quality and competence have diminished to the exception rather than the rule. The on-line world has a history of people trying things and not following through. It does not take much to be quickly included with the fly-by-nighters, and it is easy to understand why others are skeptical. Is there pressure and stress resulting from all these expectations? Yes, I have to admit I have slipped into the why am I doing this syndrome more than once. But, it is all self inflicted. If you continue to work hard, do your homework and cover your bases there should be no problem you cannot deal with. The fact is you are the only person who is responsible for the magazine, there is no one else to take any blame or share in the credit. You are the editor, writer, distributor and marketing agent. As the effort grows, so does the work. The magazine will not write itself, and what ever happens you have to make happen yourself. Few realize the work involved and that is why most magazines fail quickly. If you get complacent, people will soon be talking about your magazine in the past tense. Would I personally recommend that anyone start up an on-line magazine or newsletter? If you are doing it to make money, no. You will spend more time and money than you can realistically ever hope to re-coup. If you are doing it to provide a forum for other people's writings, no. You will end up writing most of it yourself. If you are doing it to increase the traffic on your BBS, it does help, but the time would be better spent working on your board. If you get into it for any other reason than it sounds like something you would enjoy doing, you are destined for failure. Yes, the rewards are great. I still cannot believe every thing that has happened over this first year. The only thing that has motivated me to continue has been the fact that it has been so much fun. I no longer harbor any of the other illusions. + + + + + ÍÍÍËÍÍÍ ÉÍÍÍÍ» º º º ÉÍÍ Ë ÉÍÍ º ÉÍÍ» ɻɻ º ÌÍ º ÌÍ ÍÍ º º º º º Ê ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍÍͼ ÈÍͼ Ê Ê B U L L E T I N B O A R D S Y S T E M! ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ·ÖÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÙ Archive Utils, Comm Files Ƕ LARGE ADULT SECTION ÀÄ¿ ÚÄÙ Business, Desktop, Editors, ºº R and X Rated ÀÄ¿ ³ Finance, Games, Graphics Filesºº Gif's, DL Movies ³ ³ Menu Files, Misc Utility Filesºº GL Movies, Cartoons ³ ÀÄ¿ Printer Utilities, Windows, ºº Adult Games ÚÄÙ ÀÄ¿ Utils, Word Processors,etcǶ Short Adult Stories ÚÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĽÓÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Pasco Data Lines (813) 780-8452 (813) 783-9926 1200/38,400 Tampa Data Lines (813) 973-0241 (813) 973-0371 1200/38,400 2.5 + GIGS ON LINE STORAGE PASCO BBS MAGAZINE Distribution Site Zephyrhills, Florida + + + + + Exclusive Interview with Graham Cluley -------------------------------------- Recently the editor of the Pasco BBS Magazine had the opportunity to ask a few questions of British Shareware author Graham Cluley. Since this issue is released in the middle of the holiday season, what better time to talk to author of popular Shareware the Christmas adventure game Humbug. Graham Cluley tells us a little about his Shareware releases, and about the British Shareware industry. I think you will find his comments most interesting. Pasco BBS Magazine (PBM): As an introduction, maybe you could give us some background information? Graham Cluley (GC): Well, I'm 24. Born in Hampshire, England but currently living in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. I studied computing at the Bristol Polytechnic (now called the University of West England). No wife, no kids, and no goldfish. PBM: In the documentation for Humbug you call yourself a "poor, dishevelled computer programmer looking for a 'real job.'" Have you found one, or are you still looking? :) GC: Yes, I have found a job, but I'm still looking for a real one . Eventually I got a job just by accident. I received a letter one morning from Dr. Alan Solomon, one of the world's leading experts in computer virus research. His young daughters enjoyed my games so he sent me some cheesy biscuits and a letter which basically said "If you're looking for a job give me a ring." I have been working at his company (S&S International) for about two years now, there are about 100 people working here, and I'm one of the main programmers of Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit. PBM: How did you get into writing Shareware adventure games? GC: It was really a case of writing an adventure game for fun (JACARANDA JIM) and then someone telling me about Shareware. I thought I had nothing to lose so I released it. When I saw what a response there was, I decided to write a new and more advanced adventure: HUMBUG. PBM: Could you tell us a little about the background and development of the Christmas adventure Humbug? GC: Humbug was first released round about December 1990. I was very much inspired by old Infocom games such as Lurking Horror and Zork. I wanted to write something as good as an Infocom game, but make it available as Shareware. I also wanted to write a game larger, more complex, and more satisfying than Jacaranda Jim. Not to say Jacaranda Jim is bad, its just that Humbug is far more sophisticated, both in plot and the underlying technology. PBM: What about the premise of Humbug, old grandad seems a little eccentric. GC: Yeah, there are some pretty wacky characters in my games. Alan the Gribbley from Jacaranda Jim seems to have become almost a cult figure! I guess it's my natural English eccentricity. I've always loved good characters in games and its fun to make them amusing. PBM: I was playing Humbug the other day and it seems more user-friendly than most adventure games on the market. Has user feedback been helpful in that regard? GC: A certain amount of user feedback yes. For instance recently someone asked if they could have on-line hints in my adventures, so I integrated that facility over a weekend (the hints module is available in the registered versions of the games). But mostly it comes down to me being a bit of a perfectionist. If the game isn't "just right" I'm willing to spend hours making it as user-friendly as possible. I've also found this to be useful in my "real job" where I spend a lot of time considering the user interface of the various Windows programs I am writing. PBM: Do you typically notice an increase in Humbug registrations as the Christmas season approaches? GC: Not really. Registrations tend to rise when there has been a lot of publicity. For example, a good review in a magazine. PBM: Jacaranda Jim is an amusing adventure, could you tell us about the game? GC: I first started writing Jacaranda Jim in 1987, and I think it must have been first released in 1988. Seems such a long time ago now. It was really written to amuse a group of friends at college. The original implementation was for a Prime mini-computer and later I ported it to the PC. Alan the Gribbley was a homicidal maniac I knew who used to demonstrate how he could kill cows in 157 different ways with his bare hands. Sadly he used to use me as the demonstration. Completely barking mad. Anyway, he did have a beard, hum smugly and carry a copy of PC Tools Deluxe with him everywhere. PBM: You have also written a couple of other Shareware programs. GC: I have written two arcade-style games: Blox and Wilf. Blox must be one of the earliest Tetris clones that came out. The great thing about it was the boss screen. Its a virtually working spreadsheet! Wilf is a CGA maze-style game, and was one of the first games to incorporate SoundBlaster digitized noises. Everyone seems to have done it these days. The two adventures, Humbug and Jacaranda Jim, tend to be far more popular with the public. I guess there's more addictive qualities in an adventure game. PBM: Do have any plans in the works for future releases? GC: I keep the games maintained, but at present have no firm plans to write more Shareware. Working in the virus field means long hours and the last thing I tend to want to do when I get home is sit in front of a computer. Mind you, I have found Shareware very profitable and enjoyable, so I might come back with another adventure. I have a few ideas lurking in the back of my mind. PBM: How did you decide on the Shareware method of distribution, and how successful has it been? GC: Shareware can be very successful if you market yourself correctly. I have had 2000+ registrations for my games which I think is doing quite well for a UK author. My first year I only received 20 registrations. Then I had an opportunity to ship my games on the front of a UK magazine (we have cover disks as an incentive to buy magazines over here in the UK). Suddenly, I was receiving 20 registrations a day! This is big money when you're a poor impoverished programmer on a meagre student grant. PBM: I understand the very popular Shareware author Nels Anderson is the U.S. representative for your software. GC: I've known of Nels for quite a long time. I had seen his games (particularly Mah Jongg) and had been impressed. He seemed to be a real professional and I knew that was the kind of chap I wanted to represent my software in the States. American players are greatly discouraged in sending registrations abroad, so it seemed sensible to get someone to represent me in the States. I was lucky enough to have Nels say yes. I think he's done a great job. PBM: And programs can be registered directly through you as well. GC: Certainly can. The benefits of registering my games is that you get on-line hints, fully detailed maps and several secret clues as to the games. PBM: Could you tell us a little about the British Shareware/BBS industry? GC: British Shareware has never been as organized as USA Shareware. From discussions I've had with UK authors I seem to be about the only chap who has had any real success in selling their software. I think that is largely down to a knowledge of how to market the games best. If you can't present the games properly and put them in front of the end-user, they'll never register them. Also, you must have a good reason to register the games. Otherwise, people's natural reaction will be that they won't bother. I don't know too much about BBSs, but have just bought myself a US Robotics modem. I have a company account on a system called CIX which is kind of the USA equivalent to CompuServe. PBM: Do you get much of a chance to call any BBSs yourself? GC: Not a lot. Phone bills are very pricey in the UK. + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º /\ /\ Snowshoe BBS - Snowshoe, West Virginia /\ /\ º º ------------------------------------------ º º º º Now carrying the Pasco BBS Magazine º º º º Home of US Cavenet - Echomail for cavers º º º º Phone 304-572-2531 º º º º Supporting baud rates up to 57,600 º º º º CD-Rom Online Seeknet Echo º º Over 7000 messages º º 3000+ files US Mail Echo º º in message bases º º Apogee & Epic games WV Cavenet Echo º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ + + + + + The Future of the Pasco BBS Magazine ------------------------------------ If there is going to be a long and prosperous future for this publication, than the future has to be attacked head-on. There have been several changes made which should help guarantee the future of the Pasco BBS Magazine. You may have noticed that some of the file names have been changed from the names used in previous issues. This was done to conform to the more standard file names used in most files released for electronic distribution. This is something which will be done very infrequently, as it does affect those using on-line text viewing doors to display the magazine on their BBS. The method of naming Distribution Sites has also changed, but there is an article on that elsewhere in this issue. There will now be a date for the release of each issue and a deadline for any submissions. Beginning with the next issue, February, the magazine will be released the 22nd of each month. This means that the magazine will be available on, or before, that date each month. For example, the February issue will be released by January 22. This way everyone will know when the magazine is scheduled for release. In addition, the deadline for submissions will be the 15th of the month. Items submitted after that date may have to be run in a later issue. One thing which would guarantee the survival of the magazine would be receiving original articles from other sources. It would be great to receive articles from those reading the magazine. Shareware authors could write something about their programs. Network Administrators could write about their networks. Sysops could write an article and mention their board in it. Anyone could send in their opinions on BBS related issues. The possibilities are endless. The thing to watch out for is making the piece too self-serving. Please do not submit an article which is only a glorified ad, as it should be something that people would want to read. The bottom line is that the Pasco BBS Magazine will continue for some time. How long will it continue to be published? There is no way to tell. In a way, it is difficult to imagine not doing the magazine. After all, I am the Dr. Frankenstein to this monster. Doing this First Anniversary Issue has renewed the spirit to continue, however, it can be fleeting. I will try to keep cranking it out each month, and hope that people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy doing it. + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ º º ßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º Ò Ò ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· º º ºÖ·º ÇÄ ÓÄÄ· º º º º ÇÄĶ ÓÄÄ· º º º Ó½Ó½ ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð Ð ÓÄĽ Ð º º Ö· · ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ· ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÖÐз º Ķ ÇÄÁ¿ ÇÄÁ¿ ÓÄÄ· ÞÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄĽ ÞÛÛßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÒÄÄ¿ Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ¿Ò Âß ÜÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º º ³ º ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄ º º º º ÇÄÂÙÓÄÒÄÙ ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º ÐÄÄÙ Ð Ð Á ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ Ð Á Ð ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛßßÛÛÛÛÝ º º ßÛ ÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ º º Editor: CLARK D. GILBO ßÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º Û ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º This is a 813 BBS Directory ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßÛÛÛß º º "NOT JUST A BBS LISTING ÜÜþ º º BUT A DIRECTORY" ÜÜßßßß º º º º º º Westcoast 813 BBS Directory, 4348 Plaza Dr. Suite #V103, Holiday, Florida º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ + + + + + The Best of Computer Humor -------------------------- Definitions by Tom Gordon, New Port Richey, FL Adaptive Dialing--Constantly changing one's phone # to avoid solicitors. Answer Mode--Situation one is point in by a talk show host. Bandwidth--Rock singer Meat Loaf's waist size. Basic--Nauseated Buc's fan. Batch File Transfer--List of unmarried men sent elsewhere by frustrated female bosses. Caller Log--A piece of wood that uses the phone. Capture Memory--Rare lucid moment in an alcoholic's life. Characters per Second--What Steven King and Dean Koontz are able to produce. Control Character--Person with a lie for any occasion. Crash Recovery--Coming back from a binge. Crippleware--Pots and pans for the handicapped. Cyclic Redundancy Check--Another name for the promised but unreceived raise. Data Bits--The commander from STAR TREK: THE NEW GENERATION's snack food. Destructive signaling--Getting the attention of someone waving a gun. Dumb Terminal--Some poor fool who's going to die. Escape Key--Death. Expansion Board--Fashion designers for Oprah Winfrey's new wardrobe. Flow Control--Staying continent. Handshaking--Alcoholic's wake-up call. Hardware--Clothes for body-builders. Help File--What the government's been unable to produce. Hertz--Car rental company that guarantees to put you in a painful seat. Hot Keys--What was for sale after Liberace's piano was stolen. Inactivity Timer--A bartender. Interface--The midpoint of Michael Jackson's plastic surgeries. I/O--My usual monetary state. Kermit Protocol--Political etiquette for frogs. Line driver--Baseball batter who never hits flies, pop-ups or grounders. Line Feed--What's used in most bars. Local Area Network--All you'll be lucky to see without cable. Machine Language--Aronld Schwarzenegger's acting. Mainframe--Enclosure for a portrait of our easternmost contiguous state. Memory--Usually, something best left forgotten. Message Base--Where a baseball player learns he's either safe or out. Modem--What the lawn mower did to the lawns. Non-volatile memory--An unmarried person's recollections. Null Character--Typical Pasco County resident. Odd Parity--Strange satirical writing. On-line Games--Sobriety tests. Operating System--Surgical priority according to patient's bankroll. Packet Switching Network--Moving contraband. Port--Wino connoisseur's favorite drink. Protocol--Telephone message from an amoeba. Quick Scan--First glance at people on the beach. Registered User--Legal drug user. Ring-back--What the two-timing fiance got when discovered. Ring Indicator Signal--A girl's hint at engagement. Role Playing Game--Marriage. Script Language--Hack-job done by a screen-writer when a novel's turned into a movie. Serial Interface--A drunk trying to eat Cheerios and missing his mouth. Serial Port--Police jargon for a left-handed mass murderer. Stand-alone program--Plan using scapegoat for corporation's failed project. Status Line--Row of fat people at the food stamp office. Terminal Program--Government agenda for the poor. Throughput rate--Tollbooth charge. UART--Paintings of female sheep. Upload--Helping your mother-in-law onto a horse. Verified User--Normal politician. Word Wrap--A crass form of music. + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÒÄÄÄÄ¿ ÄÄÄÄÄÄ®(813)595-9239¯ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Ü º Éͼ º ³ THE ECO/ANIMAL/ART/MUSIC BBS Û ÈÍ» Éͼ ÇÄÄÄÄÁ¿ ÄÒÄ ÒÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ Û ÈÍ» Éͼ º ³ º ÇÄÂÙ º ³ º ÇÄÄ´ º ³ º ³ Ü ÈÍ» Õͼ ÐÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÄÐÄ Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ Ð Á Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ß È͸ ³ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ³ ³ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ *NATIONAL CONFERENCES INCLUDING:* ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ 19 Bird and Animal Conferences ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ² ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ 4 Ecology Conferences ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßÛÛ **LOCAL INTER-BBS CONFERENCES** ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßß Û *********FILES!********* ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE!!! ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß NO FEES! NO RATIOS! ³ ³ °°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°° FULL ACCESS ON FIRST CALL! ³ ³ °°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°° SysOp: Mark Hammock ³ ³ °°°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°° ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄij ³ °°°°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°°° ³ Member: ³ Distribution Site: ³ ³°°°°°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°°°° ³ FIDONET (1:3603/350)³ Pasco BBS Magazine ³ ³°°°°°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°°°°° ³ BIRDNET ³ WC813 BBS LIST ³ ³°°°°°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°°°° ³ PINELLAS QWK-NET ³ MERC.OPUS BBS LIST ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; + + + + + The Constipated Cow ------------------- One of the favorite BBS names that we have ever run across is The Constipated Cow BBS. Walter Dreksler was the Sysop, and his board was named in February as one of the earliest Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Sites. Unfortunately, when he moved from St. Petersburg to Florida's east coast, the board had to be shut down. However, Walter did say he might set up another board down the road. The last time I talked to him he was working on some new game program, and had gone out to farms taping cows for the sound card support. Maybe we have not heard the last of the Constipated Cow. Here is the ad that ran in the early issues of the Pasco BBS Magazine, only the telephone number has been removed. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ³ SYSOP : WALTER DREKSLER ³ Û± Û± Û± Û± ³ COSYSOP : HENRY MORGNER ³ Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛ± ³ RUNNING : PCBOARD 14.5 REGISTERED ³ Û± Û± Û± Û± ³ STATS : NODE 1 1200-2400 ³ Û± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ³ MAIL NETWORKS : SOON TO GET FIDONET ³ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛ± Û± ÛÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± Û± ÛÛ± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û±Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û±Û±Û± ÛÛÛ± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± ÛÛ± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± ÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± Û± Û± ³ THE CONSTIPATED COW BBS FEATURING ³ Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± Û± ³ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ³ Û± Û± Û± Û± Û±Û± Û± ³ 80 MEGS OF FILE EPIC D/Ling point ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛ± ÛÛÛ± ³ PASCO BBS MAGAZINE D/Ling point ³ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Walter Dreksler was a big help to the magazine, after he shut his board down he helped line up a couple of new Distribution Sites. I hope all is going well for him, as it has been awhile since I have seen him on-line. + + + + + ßßßßßßßß ßß ßß ßßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßßß ßßßßß (219) 233-8854 ßß ßß ßß ßß 2400-14400 baud ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßßß 24 Hrs. ßßßßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßßß ßßßßß ßßßßßßßß Fidonet (1:227/854) ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß Maxnet (90:151/70) ßßß ßßßß ßßßßßß ßßßßß ßßßßßßß ßß Crossnet(73:4200/2) ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß Echonet (50:5219/854) ßßßßß ßß ßß ßßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßßß ßß ßß ßßßßß ßßß ßß ßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßß ßßßß ßßß ßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßßß ßß ßßßßß ßß ßßß ßßßßßß Remote Access Distribution Point SDN/Works! Distribution Point + + + + + Murphy's Law of Computers ------------------------- A computer program will always do what you tell it to do, but never what you want it to do. + + + + + ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÜÛÛÛÛÜÜÛ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßßÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßÛÛÛÛÛßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛßßßÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ÜÜÛÛÛÛÜÜÛ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßßÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßÛÛÛÛÛßßß ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ß ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ Ü ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÜÛÛÛÛÜÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßÛÛÛÛÛßßß ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛßßßÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß ßÛÛß A TRIBBS SYSTEM-2400 BAUD RATE-24 HOURS-40 DOOR GAMES-ADULT SUBBOARD LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN LUTZ,FL. AT 813-949-5751 SYSOP: CLAPTON + + + + + Revised Distribution Method --------------------------- The idea behind having Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Sites was to increase the exposure of the magazine, but the way the sites where being named actually hampered the growth in the number of sites. To this point, the editor had granted an area exclusively to a board, checked out all potential Distribution Sites prior to naming them and attempted to upload the magazine to all Distribution Sites each month. All this caused the distribution of the magazine to be rather hectic at times, and lead to considerably more work on this end. So, the way in which future sites are named will be more like the way the major software vendors name their sites. It will be far less restrictive, and pretty much allow anybody who wants to be a Distribution Site to do so. Here are the simplified procedures to become an Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Site. First, set up a Pasco BBS Magazine File Directory on your BBS and set up the magazine for on-line viewing. Call the home board and download all the files in the Pasco BBS Magazine File Directory, and take the Pasco BBS Magazine Script Questionnaire on the Board of Trade BBS. You will be notified, normally within 24 hours, of your acceptance by message on the home board. This is when approved Sysops should upload an ad to the Board of Trade BBS for inclusion in the magazine and BBS Log files. To continue to be listed in the magazine as an Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Site, the Sysops must call the home board at least once every four months and re- take the Script Questionnaire. This is required to guarantee all sites listed in the magazine are still active, and will assure the information contained within the BBS Log is up to date. This way a Sysop could get the magazine from a source other than the home board, say Software Creations, and still be a Distribution Site. Sysops who do not call the home board the required three times a year will see their board dropped unceremoniously from the list of Official Pasco BBS Magazine Distribution Sites. Hopefully, these new procedures will increase the number of boards carrying the Pasco BBS Magazine. There will never be any fees associated with being a Distribution Site, or any other part of the distribution for that matter. Interested Sysops should see the file SYSOP.DOC for more details. + + + + + . . . ú ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° Û°ú Û° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛ°ú . ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°.ÛÛ°ú ÛÛ°.ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° Û° ú Û° ÛÛ°.Û°ú Û° ú ÛÛ° ú Û° ú ÛÛ°ú ÛÛ° ÛÛ° Û° ú Û° ú Û° ÛÛ° Û° Û° úÛÛ° ú Û° ÛÛ° ßÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ú Û° Û° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°.ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°.ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛ°. ÛÛ°. Û° ú . . . ú ú ú ú ú ú ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛ° ú ú ú ú ú Û° . Û° Û° .Û° Û° . ú ú ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° úÛÛÛÛÛÛ° úÛÛÛÛÛ° ú ú Û°. Û° Û° . Û° . Û° ú ú ú ú ú ú ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ÛÛÛÛÛ° ú . . ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» ºú YOUR SYSOP;úº º ú Node #1 ú úº úº LOCKED AT ú º . º GENE GEIGER º º (813)323-6023 (1:3603/60) º º ú 38,400 ú º ú ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º ú Node #2 ú º . ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º ú (813)327-7823 ú º ú ú ú ú ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ú ú ú St. Petersburg, Florida ú + + + + + Floppy Fredie -------------- For the first six issues of the Pasco BBS ÜÜÜÜÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÜÜÜÜ ÜÛÜ Magazine the Word Games feature was known ÛÛÛÛ øø ÛÛÛÛ Û as Floppy Fredie's Puzzle. While I am ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ ÀÄÄÄÄÙ ÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛ not much of an ASCII artist myself, someone Û ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ with talent could actually do some pretty ßÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ nice artwork. Look at the BirdLand BBS ad ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ which runs in this issue of the magazine. ÛÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÛ It would be great to get some ASCII artists Û Û to send something along for the magazine. ÜÜÛ ÛÜÜ + + + + + Did You Know? ------------- The first two issues ran a short computer fact called "Did You Know?" + + + + + Over 10 GIGS ÜßÜ Node #1: (205)-598-9509³Main Board Online NOW !Üß ßÜ Node #2: (205)-598-9561³SysOps: Mike Howe No PRIVATEÜß ßÜ Node #3: (205)-598-9568³ David Basile Nodes, Üß ßÜ Fax # : (205)-598-6547³ Lamar Saxon ALL Û Û All nodes USR DS ³ Amiga Conference FREE !Üß ßÜ Courier HSTs ³ SysOp: Perry Martindale Üß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßÜ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Û ÛÛÛÛß ßßß Û Û ÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÜ Û ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÜ ÜÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ Üß ÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÛ ßÜ ÛÛÜÜÜÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛÜÜÜÛÛ ßÛÛÛß ÛÛÜ ÜÛÛ Û ÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÛÛÛ Û ÛÛßßßÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛßßßÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÜ ßÛÛÛß Üß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛß ßÛÛ ÞÛÝ Û Û Üß ÜÜÜßßßÜ ßÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» Û ÜÜßß ßÜ Û ÛÛÜÜÜÛß ÛÛÜÜÜÛß ÛÛÜÜÜÜ º FIDO Node: º Û ÜÜßß ßÜ Û ÛÛßßßÛÛ ÛÛßßßÛÛ ßßßßÛÛ º 1:18/9 º Û Üßß ßÜ Û ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛß ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Û Üßß ßÜÛ The Completely Free BBS ! Û ÜÛ Distribution Site for: ÛÛ No fees for anything ! Amiga support ! ÛÛ Apogee, Software Creations,Û Instant verification even for LD calls! Û Jibben, Epic Mega Games, ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ Alabama Computer Cygnus, & coming soon ÇÄÄ´ º ÇÄ ÓÄ¿ Enthusiasts Society Shadoware & Shareable ! Ð Á ÓÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Support BBS + + + + + Word Games ---------- Can you figure out this months word puzzle? Complete the puzzle by choosing the letters from the columns directly underneath. Each letter can only be used once and the left over words spell out a message. ÉÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍÑÍ» It might be best to hit º ³²³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³²³ ³²³²³²³²³²³²º your print screen key, as ÇÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅĶ it is hard to write on º²³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³ ³ ³ º your monitor. The answer, ÇÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅĶ and another puzzle, will º ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³ ³²³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ º appear next month. ÌÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØÍØ͹ ºT³G³C³P³U³M³R³O³T³O³P³E³O³P³Y³E³A³T³R³I³L³Nº Last month's answers: ÇÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅĶ We wish you a Merry ºH³A³E³O³W³P³P³T³Y³E³F³E³O³S³E³A³P³D³O³A³O³Lº Christmas and a Happy ÇÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅÄÅĶ New Year. Left over ºA³H³R³O³M³O³I³K³F³N³E³W³I³N³L³E³R³E³O³S³N³Gº letters spell: ÈÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏÍÏͼ Have a great holiday. + + + + + °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° 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 Bytor Computer Systems, Inc. presents the PC Help Forum ² ² ² ² (813) 862-4772 12/24/48/96/14400 baud ² ² ² ² Member of... ² ² Electronic Frontiers Foundation and American BBS Association ² ² Official Distribution Site for the following: Alive Software, ² ² Apogee Software, Digital Reality, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, ² ² MVP Software, Software Creations and Westcoast 813 BBS Directory ² ² BBS Voice Line (813) 863-5886 ² °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° + + + + + Next Month ---------- As of press-time, an answer has not been received for a major interview for the February issue. So, we cannot tell you who we might have, but there are always many possibilities. The series on BBS commands, scheduled for this issue, will pick up next month. + + + + + 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. 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. There is also a voice number now available at (813) 863-5886. + + + + + (C)Copyright 1993 Richard Ziegler - All Rights Reserved + + + + +