From: Elwyn.Halfmoon@fquest.FidoNet.Org (Elwyn Halfmoon)
Newsgroups: alt.missing-kids
Subject: E-mail; militant heralds; Herald's Point
Date: 8 Dec 92 00:00:00 GMT


 > From: David Herron <uunet!DAVIDS.MMDF.COM!david>
 > First..  Kwellend suggested cobbling something together with UUCP
 > and a small PC/AT class system.  While, yes, it would do the job I'd
 > see that only as a temporary situation for "proof of concept".  The

Fidonet software does all this and runs on mere PC/XT clones as well. (I know
this for certain... my own BBS is running on a Tandy 1000/SL. Reliability?  I
can ignore it for an entire week or two with confidence)

There is also reader-only software (technically referred to as "points") which
dial in using the same protocols, but pick up/send mail for a single person
only and are much easier to set up.  It has no problems with 8-bit files, has
long had a standard for attaching files to messages, email is usually
compressed, and it uses real file transfer protocols (such as ZMODEM) that
don't require protocol-spoofing Telebit modems.  There are multiple gateways
for e-mail between Fidonet proper (as opposed to other networks using the same
technology and software, but different addresses), so those on the Internet can
send their e-mail to a proper Internet address.

Best of all, the technology is very cheap; many very good Fidonet programs are
freeware and shareware, and they generally are run as a front-end to any of
multiple BBS packages.  It's multi-platform; while the best software runs on
MS/DOS, there is good software for the Macintosh (hi Craig!) and it is even
rumored :) that Fidonet software for CP/M and Apple II exists.  (But what good
would it do them if everybody wanted to send binary WordImperfect files?  On
the other hand, remember that standard ASCII doesn't have accented
characters!)

Because somebody has to pay for the LD bills, if there's a lot of mail, the
heraldic "hub" system would either arrange to poll the internet gate nightly or
(better yet) be in the same city as an internet gate (such as is Dave Aronson
of TIDMADT BBS--the gateway for this mailing list into Fido--or Tadgh's
Herald's Point, which gets the Rialto via a local gateway).

But that's not the main problem.  The main problem is indeed the number of
people with neither a net.address nor a modem.  I'm sure your estimate of 1/4
netters/modemers (at least when referring to the Laurel commenters mailing
list) is not all that far off the mark.  Secondary is the number who can't take
large amounts of mail.  Perhaps a digester could be set up specifically for
collating and distributing Laurel LOI commentaries every other day or so?

In the very least, adding the e-mail addresses to the printed mailing list
might prove useful and would give you some handle on the netted fraction of the
list.  Those who wanted to experiment with sending commentary via e-mail could
do so on an individual basis.

 - - -

 > From: thomas wrentmore barnes <uunet!SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU!tbarnes>
 > I heard Da'ud joke about a unit of fighting heralds who would go
 > around bashing fighters who had unregistered arms, or ugly devices
 > on their shields :).

Yup.  That's the Militant Arm of the Ansteorra CoH.

 - - -

Tadgh the Hampered sez:

 > It already exists. Herald's Point (FidoNet 1:124/4229) 214-699-0057

 > Supports off-line mail readers to minimize connect time; call late at
 > night when the rates are cheaper. I can typically send the equivalent of
 > 20 pages of text for less phone charge than the cost of a first-class
 > stamp; the board carries the MEDIEVAL, the Rialto and Heraldry newsgroups,
 > and the Heraldry mailing list. Feel free to call any time.

Ah, but if only you had a high speed modem.  (They can be had for a mere $250
or so, you know!  Yes, I know you've said you can't afford one... but maybe if
you got enough potential donors I would chip in $10-$25 or so. It would be
worth that much to me for you to have a V32bis modem.)