From: larry@Birdsong.Suvl.CA.US (Lawrence T. Hardiman)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Waffle File Server (WFS)
Date: 29 Jul 92 15:03:50 GMT
Reply-To: "Lawrence T. Hardiman" <larry@Birdsong.Suvl.CA.US>
Organization: The Birdsong Company, PO Box 2031, Sunnyvale CA 94087-2031


Recently in this newsgroup, some people have alleged that the
program "Waffle File Server" (WFS) will intentionally damage the
system on which it is run.  That there are "Booby Traps" in the
product.  This allegation is not true.

Those who would disparage WFS, and my integrity, have hurt my
feelings, maligned my character, and cost me untold lost revenue by
suggesting that my program would willfully damage the system on
which it runs.

Let me state that WFS will do no willful harm to any system on
which it is run. Let me say it again: There are no Booby Traps in
WFS.  One more time: WFS is not a virus.  Just for the record: WFS,
in either "test-drive" or Registered version, will not harm your
machine. To make sure: I have written no intentional destructive
code into WFS.

Those who would do me ill, say that there are threats of such
damage.  I imagine that what they refer to are messages documented
in WFS's documentation.  The message(s) are because WFS does a
self integrity check when it initializes. Far from doing harm,
WFS's self integrity check will detect modification to any of the
WFS executables, possibly SAVING YOU from a virus infection. This
is not destructive behavior.

From the WFS message documentation, verbatim:


Panic: Tamper detect

Reason:  The Registration Control Manager (RCM) component detected 
         a tamper condition while attempting to run a WFS program.  The
         tamper may be the result of a virus infection, intentional
         alteration of the executable, or unintended manipulation of the
         executable file.

Action:  Discontinue use of WFS immediately.  Contact Technical
         Support.

         The Birdsong Company (and me!) disclaim all responsibility for
         unexpected results when any part of WFS has been modified.

         You have been warned.


To those who would disparage my License terms. Have at it.  
Complain all you want about the draconian pricing, penalties for
misuse.  Complain about crippleware.  Call me a curmudgeon,
scrouge, money grubbing.  Say that I do not know how to market
shareware; say I have no liberal world view; say there is no
charity in my heart.  Knock yourself out.  If you do not want to
use WFS because of the license, then don't.  There are alternative
products.  

To those who would defame my character by alleging that WFS has
intentional malicious behavior, be careful. It is not true.  You do
me great harm by such assertions. 

OK, I'm kidding about the "untold lost revenue". :-)  I did not
write WFS to make me rich.

Here, I kid you not.  I wrote WFS specifically to extend my
software engineering skills from the mainframe industry, where I
make my primary livelyhood, to the micro computer industry and to
expose my name and the name of my company (The Birdsong Company) as
an enterprise capable of producing complex, high quality, software
to those who would potentially hire me in the micro computer
industry.

By suggesting that I have produced a malicious program, you injure
me personally and professionally.  Cease and desist.  










--
Larry@Birdsong.Suvl.CA.US