From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Just a cookie for you!
Cookie: System going down at 1:45 this
afternoon for disk crashing.
In these days of modern technology
there is an oasis of fun that exists
alongside the boredom of the thousands
of E-mails that those of us with
internet access are subjected to.
In the last couple of years people
have started to include funny little
remarks at the end of their e-mails,
these are known as tag-lines or
cookies.
Many cookies (tag-lines) feature jokes
(usually about PCs), amusing anagrams
or quotes from famous people -
universal truths are also sometimes
seen (like the one below) and can be
the funniest. Of course a cookie could
be anything really, just as long as it
is short and hopefully funny. Like the
one below...
Ultimate office automation - networked
coffee machines!
In the spirit of fun and future
progress I have decided to put a
cookie at the end of each of my public
messages. I have a library of about
3,000 of them and I am always on the
look-out for more. (So please send
them to me!)
I haven't put this idea past Chris
(the Ed) and I am hoping that he likes
it.
I shall be looking forward to your
reactions - if you have any - in the
next issue (or sent to me personally).
A quick note, the cookie will almost
never have anything to do with the
actual message, just so people don't
get the wrong idea! For this reason
and to avoid confusion I have put
'Cookie:' before each of them.
One final cookie for you...
Cookie: A clash of doctrine is not a
disaster -- it is an opportunity.
Subject: Soldering article???
In issue 47 we were promised an
article that would teach us to solder
without a trip to the local burns unit
afterwards.
Is anyone out there planning to submit
this much needed article?
Cookie: Old soldiers never die. Young
ones do.
Subject: Did you know...
Just a bit of pointless information
for you.
In the 8 issues that I have submitted
to (not including this one), I have
sent in 185k of messages alone. This
is about 23k per issue. And I usually
send at least 36 messages for each
issue!
I didn't want to calculate the amount
in total that I have sent to Chris as
it would be too scary, for issue 58
alone, I submitted over 149k of stuff
to Chris... (Some of this was
compressed to make a total on disc of
87k.)
Just for fun I compiled all my message
files into one and counted the number
of words in them! The total was rather
surprising as it seems that I have
written (and hopefully you have read)
well over 28,500 words the 185k of
messages that I have sent to Chris so
far. Not including my messages in this
issue!
The articles and other text I have
written for 8BS totals over 26,400
words with the overall total number of
words from the messages and articles I
have typed for 8 Bit Software is just
over 55,000 words. Just over 6,800
words per issue for 8 issues.
(This is probably why I started up BBC
User Group, just to take the pressure
off of Chris!)
- Actually, it is the reason why I
started up the user group but that's
another story!
Cookie: 10.0 times 0.1 is hardly ever
1.0.
Subject: ADI and the future...
ADI the Advanced Disc Investigator is
probably the most sophisticated
program of its kind that I have ever
seen, it certainly shows the true
power of the 1770/1772 disc
interfaces.
Using this powerful package I have
been able to access every type of
single and double density disc that I
have ever come across. It can even
access 720k IBM and 800k ADFS
(Archimedes) discs. It cannot access
some of the old non-standard disc
formats that appeared in the early
days of the BBC. I am eager to try and
see if it can access Amiga and Mac
discs but that is something for the
future.
The power of this package is based on
the disc interface behind it, and it
is a pity that so far (as I know)
there have been no programs that can
access 720k PC DOS and the 800k BBC
DOS discs or the ADFS D and E formats
which both use 800k discs. If such
programs existed then it would be a
wonderful bonus for BBC owners, they
needn't be full filing systems but
basic functions such as loading and
saving files would be great!
Politically Correct Cookie: Old
MacDonald had an agricultural real
estate tax abatement.
Subject: MOS Plus +
An excellent idea for the future of
the Master is an upgraded version of
the MOS Plus rom (mentioned in a
previous issue).
But what would we want it to do???
One idea would be to fix the date
problem from 2000 onwards and others
could certainly be gleaned from the
thousands of utility ROMS that we all
find essential.
The thing is, can we get hold of the
original source code to make the
changes to and would the original
authors allow it to be distributed
freely afterwards?
If you have any ideas for things that
could be added to make life easier for
us all then please get in touch with
8BS and send your messages to 999.
Perhaps if there are enough
suggestions then there could be a MOS
Plus companion ROM that could be a
separate ROM, sadly taking up 2 ROM
slots or a 32k ROM that would only
take up one of the 9 ROM banks left
for us to use.
Cookie: Paranoia doesn't mean the
whole world really isn't out to get
you.
Subject: Thanks!!!
A few issue ago I put out a request
for BASIC reference manuals.
Stephen Richardson sent me a couple of
excellent books for which I want to
thank him publicly. I would also like
to say thank-you to him for this and
all the other excellent help and
advice that he has given me.
Cookie: The sun never sets on the
British Empire because the British are
scared of the dark.
Subject: Public Domain Update...
TBI-94 Shakespeare's King Lear
I have recently revamped this disc for
the group. With a new text file reader
and a text printer it is now easier
than ever to experience this
masterpiece of literature.
It's well worth a look!
Contact Chris for information about
how to buy this disc.
Cookie: An elephant: A mouse built to
government specifications.
Subject: Public Domain Update...
BBC-118 Dictionary Access (ADFS Copy)
By Andrew Pepperell. This disc
contains a very extensive dictionary
(nb: words, but not their
definitions), together with a suite of
programs to access it.
I have recompiled a new dictionary
containing over 68,700 english words
especially for the ADFS version of
this disc. I have added over 4,400 new
words to make this dictionary the most
extensive available from 8-Bit
Software.
A new feature of this dictionary are
107 two letter english words that are
often left out of most dictionaries.
This makes it an ideal companion for
scrabble players everywhere.
Aside from this there is extensive
documentation on how to incorporate
the dictionary into your own programs
and how to write new utilities for the
dictionary. Many examples are included
on the disc.
Coming soon will be an updated copy of
the DFS version of this dictionary.
Contact Chris for more information
about how to obtain this excellent
application.
Cookie: £100 placed at 7% interest
compounded annually for 200 years will
increase to more than £100,000,000 by
which time it will be worth nothing.
Subject: Public Domain Update...
Photos from the 'Not The Acorn User
Show 1997' are available now from
Chris. TBI-116 4*DFS or 2*ADFS discs.
During the show I offered to take all
the pictures taken (mostly) by Chris
on his new digital camera and process
them so that all us humble beeb owners
can look at them on our computers.
I have included a 1/4 size taster
photograph on this issue.
These pictures are available NOW, on 2
* ADFS L discs or 4 * 80T DFS discs.
They are well worth a look!
Cookie: You never get a hangover from
other people's vodka. -- Russian
proverb
Subject: Lottery Program...
Perhaps, someone could redo the
lottery selector so that it would
automatically print a begging letter
for you if you were unlucky enough not
to win when your work's syndicate
does.
For the luckier of us it could print a
gloating letter perhaps to post to
your boss, etc, etc!
Cookie: Go to jail. Go directly to
jail. Do not pass Go, do not collect
£200.
Subject: Derek Hill's Scrabble...
Did anyone see Derek HIll's scrabble
selector program and the accompanying
puzzle?
I am sure that Derek spent hours and
hours writing this program for us all
to ponder over. It is the least that
could be done for somebody to write a
message with a nice answer or a bad
guess.
I, myself have no answer to offer but
I am sure that one of the hordes of
other members of 8BS has had an
inkling of an answer.
Cookie: Many are called, few
volunteer.
Subject: Master Config Losses...
There have been a few messages on this
subject recently and I thought that
I'd chip in with an experience that I
have recently had.
I was recently looking through a pile
of discs that I have on loan and
discovered an old comms program, I
don't recall the name directly but it
started with a 'V'.
Anyway, I pressed CTRL+Break to leave
the program and was a bit miffed when
my Master informed me that it was
doing a CMOS RAM reset.
I ran the program again later and the
same thing happened if I CTRL+Break'd
out of the program.
Oh well, that's life (and poorly
written programs) for you.
Cookie: Rotten wood can not be carved.
-- Confucius
Subject: Program Ideas...
Although I am sure that every 8BSer is
dying to write your rollercoaster of a
program you brought up an interesting
point.
Even if Cluke does think that you're a
sad person for doing so.
If you or indeed any member out there
has an idea for a program that you
would like to see written on the BBC,
perhaps it could be a game an
application or a utility then please
get in touch with Chris and send a
message to '999' explaining your
program idea and perhaps someone will
take up the idea and turn it into a
program.
Cookie: A Puritan is someone who is
deathly afraid that someone somewhere
is having fun.
Subject: Ref: Puzzle 1...
Well, did any of you get it?
After a few minutes of careful
counting I have counted a total of 51
squares!
From the smallest to the biggest there
are: 24, 12, 4, 5, 1, 4, 1 squares of
each size!
Cookie: Nothing endures like change.
-- Heraclitus
Subject: Apologies...
I would like to apologise to everyone
who has written to me in the last
couple of months and hasn't heard
anything back from me, due to
unfortunate personal circumstances and
illness I haven't been able to reply
to everybody and since I have moved
recently I may not have all your
letters to hand. However, do not
despair, I am doing everything I can
to track down your letters and will
reply to them. If you have contacted
me and are waiting for either
subscription refunds (from BUG) or
discs or urgent letters then please
get in touch in the mean time.
My new address and phone number are:
Jon Ripley, BBC User Group,
15 Wexford Court, 14 Biddenden Close,
Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 7HX.
Telephone: (01323) 768421 (anytime)
e-mail: jonripley@arcticbb.demon.co.uk
Cookie: Creditors have much better
memories than debtors.
Subject: Archimedes Contacts Wanted
I have recently purchased a 2 meg
A3010 (RISC OS 3.1) and I am looking
for other members with archimedes
computers who would be interested in
swapping software or just exchanging
letters.
If anybody wants to send me any
questions about the archimedes (not
hardware related) to me either
personally through royal mail - send a
stamped addressed envelope for my
reply - or through the 8-Bit messaging
system please feel free to do so. You
could even phone me up - I can't call
you back I'm afraid, I simply don't
earn enough!
My 8BS ID is D5B (obviously - it's at
the top of this message) and...
My address and phone number are:
Jon Ripley, BBC User Group,
15 Wexford Court, 14 Biddenden Close,
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 7HX.
Telephone: (01323) 768421 (anytime)
e-mail: jonripley@arcticbb.demon.co.uk
Cookie: People have declaimed against
luxury for 2,000 years ... and people
have always delighted in it.
Subject: Modems and stuff...
I am writing a bulletin board system
for the BBC and would appreciate any
files (text/programs/etc) that any
8-Bit members may have gathered over
the years! I am especially interested
in comms programs (in basic!) for the
Archi or Beeb. At this stage I mainly
need to find out the control codes for
modems just so I know how to get two
modems talking to each other!
I am especially interested in Hayes
(and compatible) modem protocols to
use when transferring data.
I would also appreciate any algorithms
for over-the-phone data transfer
algorithms. ZModem preferably... (But
any is welcomed)
My address and phone number are:
Jon Ripley, BBC User Group,
15 Wexford Court, 14 Biddenden Close,
Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 7HX.
Telephone: (01323) 768421 (anytime)
e-mail: jonripley@arcticbb.demon.co.uk
Cookie: As long as the answer is
right, who cares if the question is
wrong?
Subject: BBSing...
Hi'yall!
Well, I just bought a USR 14.4k
Sportster modem that I have hooked up
to my A3010.
I've found two great BBSs that are ru
on Archies; Digibank and arctic, more
info next time!
You can contact me on digibank by
writing to JonRipley (no space) or on
Arctic by writing to Jon Ripley (with
the space!).
See yer!