Subject: Ron'sWeek'n'ADAM 02/11/98

Ron's Week'n'ADAM

      February 11, 1998

      We're going to have to change the name of this series. 
My timing has been anything but weekly.  This computer, ADAM 
number 5, bids you all a fond "Hello". I simply couldn't pass 
it up. A Commodore 64 buddy who frequents local thrift shops 
and garage sales more religiously than I clued me in a couple 
of weeks ago on  a half price sale taking place at the St. 
Vincent de Paul second hand store in town. A base ADAM, 
there for $65. was now on sale for $35. At first I thought, 
nah. A couple of days later, my friend asked me if I'd been 
to check it you yet, and I said, "Nah."

      But then, of course, you all know the rest of the story. 
So here sits ADAM number 5, much cleaner now than it was, and 
working perfectly. Judging from the data packs that accompanied 
the beast, this ADAM is now running software it hasn't seen 
before. I am a TDOS freak and any ADAM here will therefore run 
TDOS and will enjoy it. With the 256k memory expander added, 
and a disk drive, the poor machine probably hasn't yet perceived
its full role here in the 'snake pit'. Wait till it gets a load
of the IDE hard drive.

      On my first visit to St Vincent de Paul, I made a half
hearted attempt to explain to the sales lady that this computer
offered more than enough capability for the beginner, and that if
someone bought it, I would be pleased to provide assistance with 
setup and such. That produced a blank stare from the other side 
of the sales counter, and a clear threat that if the silly machine 
didn't get sold in a few days it was going out. I wasn't exactly 
sure where 'out' was, but it sounded scary.

      Later it occurred to me that most likely nobody, nobody in 
this town had any idea of just how useful an ADAM can be. Nobody 
knew, and nobody cared. With one or two exceptions, in this town 
ownership of an 8 bit computer brands you as some some sort of 
kook, particularly if you talk about it. If you boast about it or 
try to promote it, you're stranger still. My colleagues at Board 
meetings of the Comox Valley Community Information System Society
choose mostly to ignore my stated preferences in computer hard-
ware, noting that I have at least one semi-respectable machine 
with reasonable, albeit dated, capability (the 486 dx4/120).

      So what am I going to do with my latest acquisition? I have 
no idea. It could be designated for parts I suppose, if any of my 
other 4 our ADAM computers ever require parts, which presently 
they do not.

      Perhaps I should designate ADAM 5 as my "ADAM BOMB" 
machine, now there's an idea. Robert Bair (110405.1013@compu
serve.com) just sent me full instructions and maps for ADAM 
Bomb, and it's high time I started preparing myself for
upcoming sessions at ADAMCON 10 in October. 

      Whatever happens, would I now consider selling ADAM 5?
      NAH!

      On to more important stuff:

      ADAM FIDO USERS AHOY!
      Yesterday, I monitored the following conversation on the 
FIDO International ADAM echo between Paul Elshoff (Winnipeg,
Tiny's Tory Town 1:348/700.5) and James Young (1:366/221): Quote

      Feb 5, 1998

      ......quoting James Young to
All.....

      JY>  According to a message from the FidoNet Echolist, 
           this ADAM echo is scheduled to be removed from the 
           Elist on the 27th of February 1998 because of low 
           volume of messages.

      (Paul replies)
 
           PLEAD with them NOT to delist us, as it's about the 
           only place left for us Adamites to congregate.

      And James replied on February 7th

           "I'm afraid that the only thing that will keep us 
           going is an increase in traffic. I suppose the thing 
           that irritates me most is that I was never notified
           directly of this, but just happened to run across it 
           in the EchoList echo   Regards, Jim"

RM>   Well people? Is there anything we can do? 

      Those who no longer have FIDO access, but who do have telnet 
      capability can reach the ADAM International Fidonet echo by 
      telnetting to: BBS.Neverending.Com

      Log on, and go to the Fidonet message area where you'll see 
      the ADAM Echo listed.  The Neverending BBS is run by Charlie 
      Waters  (charlie.waters@neverending.com) of Deltona Florida. 
      Charlie's BBS carries a complete list of FIDO echos and he 
      offers an hour daily to anyone who signs on. If you make him 
      a donation, he'll up your time limit. Doesn't matter where 
      you live, you can telnet to his BBS just as though you lived
      around the corner.

      You might also want to note that the ADAM International FIDO
      echo used to be the chief means of communication amongst 
      ADAMites prior to the inception of the the popular' Internet 
      circa 1993. There were times when 50 or more messages a day 
      between ADAMites transited that echo. Those were indeed the 
      'good old days'. We haven't achieved the same level of 
      communication since.

      In respect of the present Echo situation, I guess it's a case 
      of 'use it or lose it'. 

      Paul Elshoff, Terry Cairns, Guy Bona, Jim Young, Reggie Arford, 
      all regular frequenters of the ADAM echo, would be much happier 
      if we all 'used it'.     'nuff said.


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