–As of Feb 20, TUBBS is no more. Bob’s business has grown to the point where he hasn’t the time, we at SINCUS are glad for the opportunities to mget and hear Bob and to have used his BBS, we thank him and are sorry to see him go.
January 21, 1987, our regular monthly meeting started off with: Robert French, SYSOPS of TUBBS, talked about his BBS and the hows and whys of telecommunications. He discussed the volume of information available to mankind, and that this amount is doubling every 20 months. (Watch PBS, “Earth”, “Nova”, etc to get an idea of all the phyiscal surveys of this world and our universe that collects reams of new data every day) To help in the exchange of this data telecommunications helps buisness and science and government transfer large volumes of data at hi speed and acurrately. Us individual human beans can tap some of this data, via our little 300 and 1200 baud modems thru services such as Compuserve and the Source. Note however the charges each exacts from our plastic. A group of computer users, subscribe to a thought of providing free or low cost bulletin boards and or data bases. After turning their computers over to the public, they then are responsible for what ever happens to appear on their BBS. If a copyrighted program appears without the permission of the author, the SYSOPS (System operator) is then liable for any loss of profits due to illegal pirating. Individuals have thought up and used abusive functions to BBS. This tends to cut down on the number of free-no charge- boards to the public. The SYSOPS pays for his computer, extra storage and BBS program. Some accept advertising, and some like a FIDO net, charge for the transmission of mail.
-Bob came quite prepared for the talk, with transparent overlays, showing the different screens on his system and handouts of local and club interest and free pens. A couple points he hit on that are new to me are 1)Thread – a system of tying common message base questions and answers together. 2) Edit function will help you with spelling! and how to use stack commands and that by uploading files, one can increase daily time available.
February 18, 1987, with about a dozen present, we held our monthly meet at the Vestal Public Library. Wes Brozozowski brought along his US Spectrum, a British ZXSpectrum adapted for our 60Hz, 110v lines and our TV. About the size of a 2068 less the cartridge port, black with grey rubber chicklet keys and red print, it makes you happy Timex came along when they did! With Microdives hooked up, Wes demoed a couple games and Super Basic. Clyde Tackley and your truly connected modem to modem, his with Mterm 2 on a cartridge, and me with Tiny Board loaded in. With Drs. Wes and Dave Schoenwetter, the matter of making the two connect was a five minute go around with Tiny Board. And soon Clyde was typing on MY screen just like if he went over the phone lines! This now makes two ways we have direct connected modems, both with Mterm, and now this way.
-Hi and hello to new members, David Smith, Johnson City NY; Stu Walton, Rowley MA; William Walker, Huntington WV; James Kerr, Dolton IL; Jack Deuber, Casselberry FL; Claude Schleyer, Albuquerque, NM; Harold Crandall, Oxford CT; Jim Willits, San Marcos CA; Larry Anderson, Davenport IA; G.T. Cook, Gainesville , FL; A. Kahale, Hoffman Estates, IL; Joan Kealy, El Paso, TX; and Bill Barnhart, Falls Church VA. To current members, if your name/address label has a 3/87 or a 4/87, dues for the next 12 months are due. This is the only notice you will receive.
-We are glad to welcome into our newsletter swap the Detroit Area TSUG and the Ottawa/Hull TSUG. We have dropped a couple groups for not carrying their half of the swap. Triangle TSUG, Hampton Roads TSUG , Las Vegas TSUG, ATSU of Columbus, Ohio and the Cincinnati TSUG. We have been mailing to these groups for over a year with nothing received from them.
Last issue we carried a plea from Don Lambert for help with his ZX80, well I am very pleased to say that TWO members sent in schematics for the ZX80 and later we will carry the schematic for all. Thanks to all concerned!!
March meet- our Treasurer, George Penney, will be giving a talk on his TS1000 program for his business. With this program, you can reprogram with four or five words in English yet and have the data already stored in memory be listed in a different relationship. George is a programmer from way back when not only was 16K of RAM alot, but it was about the most available, so he has learn well how to make the most with the least.
Meet dates-March 18 and April 15 both at 7pm, at the Vestal Library-come early-snow might melt some-we have been REAL lucky this year-a couple meets have been sandwiched between some heavy snows-March has always been a bad month, and April is always up for grabs-so if we dont see you by April, then MAY for sure!