=========================================================================
 
INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Thu, 21 Dec 89       Volume 89 : Issue  847
 
Today's Topics:
                      Chaos strikes back querry
                     GEnie uplink is shut down..
                            Lynx protocol
                          Unexpandable megas
                      UniTerm V2.0c and TOS 1.4
                  USENET -> GEnie uplink now working
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 89 20:18:31 EST
From: Marcelino Bernardo <MBERNAR%ERENJ.BITNET@CORNELLC.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject: Chaos strikes back querry
 
I didn't follow the recent discussion on Chaos Strikes back.  I gather that
it lives up to expectations from Dungeon Master which I haven't played yet
(I have it from a good source that I'm getting this for X-mas).
But, I thought I saw some discussions about a bug in Chaos...
 
Could some kind soul please summarize to me?  I had to go through my info-
atari digest quickly as I was low on disk space.  Now, I can't look it
up.
 
Thanks in advance.
Marcelino Bernardo
mbernar@erenj.bitnet
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 21 Dec 89 23:57:02 GMT
From: well!dsmall@apple.com  (David Small)
Subject: GEnie uplink is shut down..
Message-ID: <15158@well.UUCP>
 
        After receiving mail on some concerns people have had with the
USENet -> GEnie uplink, I've gone ahead and shut it down. It won't be back
up unless those concerns are resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
 
        Concerns raised included --
 
        Would GEnie be a 2-way site? Many did not want to see information
going only one way. I agree; it should be 2-way. I will say it's necessary
to show the potential such a link has before it could be developed from its
present kludge to a good link; that's now been done.
 
        Would there be e-mail exchange? This is not a big technical problem,
and I think it needs to be done, as many notes said.
 
        Would GEnie put some sort of anthology copyright on the notes? I
very much don't want that, and neither did several other people. Obviously
we can't have that.
 
        Most of the writers were in favor of the link *provided* there be
no copyright hassles, no for-profit on my part, and that there be email and
a 2-way link -- in other words, GEnie become a regular site. I see their
point and agree.
 
        I've found in working with organizations that one example can be more
effective than thousands of words (the old writer's adage of, "show, don't
say".) As soon as everyone gets back from holiday vacation, I can show GEnie
management the benefits for everyone in such an information exchange, with
the present; many GEnie people very much want to be part of the Net. While
I don't speak for GEnie, I have hopes that something can be worked out that
will be satisfactory for everyone. The WELL and PORTAL, both of which I'm on,
do charge for USENET access, but I consider that entirely fair; they have
equipment and staffing costs, and aren't really gouging anyone. I think
it'd be a good thing if we could GEnie to operate in the same fashion.
 
        There were concerns that the volume of notes back from GEnie would
stress the net. I don't want that, and I don't want a thousand "How do I beat
Level 7 on Dungeon Master" notes on the Net, either.
 
        Finally, a few writers missed the text on the original note where
I said that I make no profit on these notes; the (not large) royalties made
on the GEnie Gadgets support area are all donated to non-Gadgets volunteers
who maintain the place. I am not allowed to divulge royalty rates, but this
is a really low amount of money -- hardly some sort of "gold mine".
 
        Overall, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding; looking over my original
note, I can see I wasn't too clear on my intent, which was working towards
bringing GEnie into the Net two-way, with email, without copyright problems.
I hardly want to be sneakernetting messages the rest of my life (*sigh!*), it
gets old real fast.
 
        A few writers mentioned some hassles with Compuserve; I am completely
unfamiliar with that story. Ditto with BIX.
 
        Anywho, look, it's the holidays, and we all have a lot better things
to do than worrying about this. I think the GEnie people I've talked to
(who seem pretty sane) will see the potential for *mutually* beneficial
information exchange; the link won't reopen until these concerns are worked
out to everyone's satisfaction (that means, you'll see it here before
anything happens, so there's a chance to discuss it).
 
        If I've offended anyone, my apologies; it certainly wasn't my
intention to do so. I wanted to demonstrate that the technology to link nets
in a good way was here, not cause any fuss or trouble.
 
        I very much appreciate those who took time to write email explaining
points I hadn't thought of (e.g., anthology copyright). Several notes spoke
highly of Richard Stallman and the FSF; getting to talk with Richard at
length was one of the highpoints of Hackers for me, and I know a good deal
about the FSF. (He certainly doesn't get much good press in the computer
trade journals -- most don't even stop to *listen*). What can I say ... I'm
a card carrying EMACS user.
 
        So to recap, many users raised points I feel are completely valid,
had not thought of, and I've responded by dropping the link until such time
that it's resolved in an acceptable way. (That means acceptable to you, not
to me, ok?)
 
        I'm very pleased with the number of people who agree that GEnie as
a site is a good idea, provided it's a full, two-way information exchange.
The idea of information exchange is alive and well. I also appreciate those
who took the time to write before doing some sort of public primal scream;
in my experience since '76, screaming on nets feels good, but it's the quiet
and calm voices that get things done.
 
        It's time to go Christmas shopping here. We here wish you all a
happy and safe holiday, and our best wishes for the new decade!
 
        -- thanks, Dave / Gadgets by Small
 
p.s. I'll keep you informed of anything that happens relating to this link;
however, don't expect rapid action -- you know how bureaucracies are. Also,
everyone's off for the holidays in any event.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 21 Dec 89 21:03:18 GMT
From: ulysses!nsscb!tjm@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (Timothy J. Murphy)
Subject: Lynx protocol
Message-ID: <1180@nsscb.UUCP>
 
        Atari, expectedly, isn't forthcoming w/ any decent technical info
on the Lynx, specifically the ComLynx port, so now I turn to the world's
most secret pool of knowledge: you people on the Net!
        I'd like to find out just how the heck data is sent over this thing.
The connector looks like an RCA mini phono plug, with 3 distinct areas,
check out below:
 
        _____________        _
                     \------/ \
                       |   |   >
        _____________/------\_/
 
        I assume one section is transmit, one receive, and finally a signal
ground. I'm going to start my Lynx w/ California Games, which allows for
2 players, hook it up to an analyzer, and see if I can determine where transmit,
receive, etc. are coming from, and what the protocol is. I'm obviously making
the assumption this is a serial link, but I can't think of anything else
that'll make sense (which may just be my inexperience in this area, since
this type of hacking isn't my normal arena). If anyone has any ideas, insights,
warnings, ANYTHING, please let me know! There's scads of potential locked up
in this thing and I want to start getting at it!!!!
 
 
 
                                                Thanks hugely,
 
                                                        Tim Murphy
 
 
                                                ...!ulysses!nsscb!tjm
                                                        or
                                                ...!acsu.buffalo.edu!nsscb!tjm
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 22 Dec 89 02:25:00 GMT
From: acf5!mitsolid@nyu.edu  (Thanasis Mitsolides)
Subject: Unexpandable megas
Message-ID: <370008@acf5.NYU.EDU>
 
>/* acf5:comp.sys.atari.st / mark@rpp386.cactus.org (Mark Lehmann) / 10:12 pm
 Dec 20, 1989 */
>>Why do people assume that...
>
>Thank you.  Now I know that every one...
 
I appologize, my English are not good enough to avoid this kind of mistakes.
Of course I just meant "some people".
 
Sorry,
 
Thanasis
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 20 Dec 89 11:27:28 GMT
From:
 snorkelwacker!ira.uka.de!smurf!gopnbg!tmpmbx!netmbx!hase@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
 (Hartmut Semken)
Subject: UniTerm V2.0c and TOS 1.4
Message-ID: <3981@netmbx.UUCP>
 
In article <25010@cup.portal.com> R_Tim_Coslet@cup.portal.com writes:
>Well, I just installed the _2_Chip_ TOS 1.4 in my MEGA ST2.
>Came right up no problems, installed NeoDesk still no problems...
>Then I encountered a PROBLEM with UniTerm V2.0c...
 
I do not have any problems with Uniterm 2.0e unter Rainbow TOS (german).
No problems with Revolver or the like...
 
I had problems when trying NeoDesk (with TOS 1.0): Uniterm, Signum2 and
Tempus refused to PExec() programs (I use rz.ttp/sz.ttp from Uniterm for
ZModem files transfers).
I got rid of  the problems when I got rid of NeoDesk...
 
hase
--
Hartmut Semken, Lupsteiner Weg 67, 1000 Berlin 37 hase@netmbx.UUCP
Dennis had stepped up into the top seat whet its founder had died of a
lethal overdose of brick wall, taken while under the influence of a
Ferrari and a bottle of tequila. (Douglas Adams; the long dark teatime...)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 22 Dec 89 02:48:06 GMT
From: rochester!kodak!elmgate!jdg@pt.cs.cmu.edu  (Jeff Gortatowsky CUST)
Subject: USENET -> GEnie uplink now working
Message-ID: <1180@elmgate.UUCP>
 
In article <330@ssc.UUCP> fyl@ssc.UUCP (Phil Hughes) writes:
>In article <935@crash.cts.com>, canada@crash.cts.com (Diane Barlow Close)
 writes:
>
>> What I object to the most is the fact that the link is one way (and will
>> stay that way due to GEnie's commercial nature).  I don't like Usenet being
>> ``raped'' to supply GEnie's commercial pockets.  If GEnie is that ``tapped
>> out'' for knowledge that they are desperate enough to plunder Usenet, then
>> perhaps GEnie should be disbanded.
>
>I disagree.  There are sources of information and there are distributors
>of information.  We, the users of Usenet are the source.  We have decided
>to share that information with others.  And GEnie is not providing access
>to that information - for a price.  Usenet offers the same but the price
>is different.  In my case, a company that I own part of foots the bill for
>providing Usenet services to employees as well as feeds to other
>companies.  Other companies provide Usenet access for money.
 
A one way link is simply unfair. Two, way I have no objections to... But,
others may. Let me make a fairy tale example. Suppose some chap runs a
pay BBS somewhere's, and also has Net access. Lets say he grabs all the
goodies, places them on his BBS and charges people to see the info. Is that
fair? If I post info/solutions whatever the case may be, I post it for the
public... free of charge. I do not see GEnie calling anyone of us, more so
the companies that foot usenets bills offering "a slice of the pie".
I see no offers of "free exchange" of any GEnie info. In fact its been said
that GEnie applys copyrights to info/files etc. So, if I post a code stub,
or function lets say, and it ends up on GEnie it is copyrighted by them?
This is america, while the word "free" may have went through some changes
in 200 years, it does not mean "free to those who can pay". And, esentially,
that is what we have here.
 
 
--
Jeff Gortatowsky-Eastman Kodak Company  .....rochester!kodak!elmgate!jdg
(use uuhosts or such to find path to rochester)
Eastman Kodak makes film not comments.  Therefore these comments are mine
not theirs.
 
------------------------------
 
End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V89 Issue #847
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