[HEA] _____________________ ___ _ |___ ______________| | | | | | | _ | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | ____ _ _ _ _ ______ | | | || | | | / __ \ | | / \_/ \ | ___ \ | | | || |__ ____ | | / / \ | | /\ /\ \ | | \ \ | | | || _ \ | _ \ | | \ \__/ | | | |_|| | | |__/ / | | | || | | || |_|| | | \___/|_| |_| |_| | ____/ |_| | || | | || |__ | |____________________ | | _ |__||_| |_|\____/ |________________________| | | |_| | | Lighting Your Apple II Path | | |_| ----------------------------------- >>> WELCOME TO THE LAMP! <<< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE BEST OF THE A2 BULLETIN BOARD ON Syndicomm Online AND THE BEST OF THE DELPHI A2 AND A2PRO MESSAGE BOARDS "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1998" :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Lamp! An Onipa'a Software Production Vol. 7, No. 6 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Publisher................................Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. Editor.....................................................Lyle Syverson Internet Email, Publisher.........................thelamp@sheppyware.net Internet Email, Editor................................lyle@FoxValley.net :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TABLE OF CONTENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 15, 2004 HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER---------------------------------------------[OPN] The Power of Nostalgia The Lure of Versatility A2 FORUM AT Syndicomm Online (A2Central.com) DISTILLATIONS------------[DAS] VisiCalc Turns 25------------------------------------------------[VCT] Geoff Weiss Updates Several Titles of His Software---------------[WUS] New Files in A2 Library------------------------------------------[UTF] Superdrives Available--------------------------------------------[SDA] Contiki----------------------------------------------------------[CTK] The Game, Quest 1.1----------------------------------------------[TGQ] Versions of the Game, Empire-------------------------------------[TGE] A Hard Drive Solution for the //c, //c+?-------------------------[HDC] Juiced.GS V9I2---------------------------------------------------[JGS] Status of gsAIM--------------------------------------------------[SGA] ILLUMINATING THE LAMP-------------------------------------------------[ITL] An overview of GEnieLamp A2 and The Lamp! This series will continue in the August or September issue. THE TINKERER'S CORNER-------------------------------------------------[TTC] The IIgsX2 You are Invited ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM------------------------------------------[ANS] To Sign up for Syndicomm Online----------------------------------[TSU] June 2004 Issue of Syndicommotion Available----------------------[JSC] Thanks For Ken's Work on Syndicommotion--------------------------[TKW] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR-------------------------------------------------[LTE] No Letters to the Editor This Month An Invitation KFEST 2004------------------------------------------------------------[KFF] KansasFest 2004--------------------------------------------------[KF4] Registration for KFest 2004--------------------------------------[KFR] Something to Show at KFest This Year?----------------------------[STS] Steven Weyhrich to Present KeyNote Address at KansasFest 2004----[SWK] Peikop Endropov Airport Taxi Service-----------------------------[PTS] It's HackFest Season!--------------------------------------------[IHS] EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] [*] [*] [*] READING THE LAMP! The index system used by The Lamp! is designed to make """"""""""""""""" your reading easier. To use this system, load this issue into any word processor or text editor. In the index you will find something like: EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] To read this article, simply use your search or find command to locate [INN]. There is a similar tag at the end of each article: [EOA]. [OPN]------------------------------- HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER | ------------------------------------ From The Editor """"""""""""""" by Lyle Syverson The Power of Nostalgia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The patio High Above The Rock River is the perfect place to sit back and contemplate things past. Down on the farm, seventy some years ago, my father bought his first tractor. In time, my brother and I spent many hours driving this tractor. The Farmall Regular 20, equipped with steel wheels, was a row crop tractor... the wheels placed so as to straddle the rows of crops such as corn. Over the years it was upgraded using parts from third party sources as well as from the manufacturer. Steel wheels replaced with rubber tires. A more efficient governor to maintain a steady speed. A new magneto to provide a more efficient spark for ignition. A hydraulic seat for a smoother ride. Addition of a "road gear" for faster movement when on the road between fields. In time a larger, more powerful tractor was purchased and the original became the "2nd tractor" for the "smaller jobs". Even later the Regular 20 was retired... but my Father could not part with it... there was something special about his first tractor. My Father has passed on. My brother took over the farm. That old tractor still has a place of honor in the machine shed. Once a year we start it up and drive it around the yard. It is still capable of doing the work it was designed to do. But the work is now done with larger, more powerful tractors that are several generations beyond the Regular 20. Notice the similarity of the tractor story to that of the Apple II computers... upgrading, still capable, not willing to part with your first computer, etc. Come to KansasFest 2004 for a dose of Apple II nostalgia. See the KFest section of this issue for more information. The Lure of Versatility ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The versatile nature of the Apple IIgs inspires the Tinkerer. Check out the IIgsX2 in The Tinkerer's Corner of this issue. [EOA] ASCII ART BEGINS _________ _ _ _ |__ __| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |___ ____ | | _____ __ ___ _ _ _____ | | | | | ___ \ / __ \ | | /____ \ | v v | | v ___ \ | | | | | | | | | /__\ \ | | ____| | | /\ /\ | | / \ \ | | | | | | | | | _____| | | / ___ | | || || | | | | | |_| | | | | | | | |_____ | |____ | |__| | | || || | | \___/ / _ |_| |_| |_| \______| |______| \____^_| |_||_||_| | |\____/ |_| | | | | |_| ASCII ART ENDS [EOA] [DAS]---------------------------------------------- DISTILLATIONS FROM The A2 FORUM at Syndicomm.com | (A2Central.com) | --------------------------------------------------- by Lyle Syverson [VCT] VisiCalc TURNS 25 """"""""""""""""" VisiCalc turns 25 this year. Its three founders were reunited for this article: http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116166,00.asp A history of the software can be found here: http://bricklin.com/visicalc.htm (KGAGNE, Cat 2, Top 6, Msg 108) >>>>> """"" >> VisiCalc turns 25 this year. << Now that's a scary thought! :-) I remember giving the very first spreadsheet "information/introduction" presentation using Visicalc at my employer at that time. As an Apple II owner and someone who had "played" with Visicalc, that put me light-years ahead of anyone else in my city! I still have to rate Visicalc as one of the truly great "inventions" of the last century. Personal computers were still (perhaps rightly) regarded as glorified toys, or at the most high-tech typewriters. Visicalc put personal computers in general (and the Apple II in particular) on the map. Another way of looking at spreadsheets is that they allow non-programmers to create "programs", in the same way that modern phones allow everyone to be a telephone operator. A colleague at work is very definitely not a programmer, but he blew me away recently with a spreadsheet he developed to predict the size of a custom database after a year. I am still discovering new ways to use spreadsheets - and I haven't even *begun* to touch the macro-type facilities! Peter peterw@syndicomm.com Palm OS Community Bulletin Board Manager (PETERW, Cat 2, Top 6, Msg 109) [EOA] [WUS] Geoff Weiss UPDATES SEVERAL TITLES OF HIS SOFTWARE """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I uploaded a new version of my ping shell utility: ping version 1.1. Not only does it have several bug fixes, it now does the following: - support output redirection - errors are sent to stderr - the version number can be displayed with the -V argument Please let me know if it doesn't work if used from your favorite shell. Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 20, Top 13, Msg 69) >>>>> """"" I must have been in a bug stomping mood. The HashTool had a memory corruption bug if the Data Bank Register and the Program Bank Register differed for both md4 and md5. This has been updated on the Web site: http://hashtool.gwlink.net/ and it has been uploaded here as well. It's a necessary update for those who are using CHAP for their PPP connections. The source is quite fugly and I wouldn't recommend anyone following it by example. Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 20, Top 13, Msg 70) >>>>> """"" On a quest of fixing more bad code, I have updated the Time Zone control panel which had some memory corruption issues (if certain segments were in the same bank as code) and had issues with the custom time zone. These have all been fixed. Tool56 also got a slight overhaul for better internal handling of data passing on the stack. Putting it all in one segment and proper use of setting the DBR results in a slightly faster loading toolset. This has been uploaded to the A2central library. I'm assuming a message somewhere else in this forum will announce when it will be ready for download. Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 20, Top 13, Msg 73) [EOA] [UTF] NEW FILES IN A2 LIBRARY """"""""""""""""""""""" There is a new upload in the system_software/misc_16-bit/tools directory: File: tool56v104.bxy Size: 108416 Date: Jun 05 This is an update to the Time Zone Control Panel and the Tool56 toolset. The Time Zone control panel got updated to fix some memory and custom time zone problems. Tool56 was internally updated to follow better coding practices. Uploaded by the author, Geoff Weiss. Tony Ward, A2 Librarian (A2.TONY, Cat 2, Top 37, Msg 29) >>>>> """"" There is a new file in the utilities/16-bit/shell_utilities directory: File: ping11.bxy Size: 2176 Date: Jun 09 ping 1.1 is an update to the ping shell utility. This is the first time it is a stand alone archive. This version contains text fixes, errors redirected to stderr, an argument to get the version number, and supports output redirection. Uploaded by the author, Geoff Weiss. Tony Ward, A2 Librarian (A2.TONY, Cat 2, Top 37, Msg 30) [EOA] [SDA] SUPERDRIVES AVAILABLE """"""""""""""""""""" Reminder - Shreve Systems still has NIB Apple 3.5 superdrives in stock for $29 - they will work as standard 800K drives when connected to the GS smartport. Its really hard to beat that deal. (SFAHEY, Cat 3, Top 31, Msg 51) [EOA] [CTK] Contiki """"""" I've never seen the Web Browser run in the Contiki environment until the movie of the Apple //e was posted on the Contiki Web site last week. Since I know nothing of the Contiki environment, how was the speed of the //e compared to a Commodore 64 also running on ethernet? And for those who know how fast Contiki runs, was the //e in the film accelerated or was that a 1 MHz unit? Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 11, Top 35, Msg 1) >>>>> """"" Geoff, All I know of Contiki (besides the obvious) is on that video. Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 11, Top 35, Msg 2) [EOA] [TGQ] THE GAME, Quest 1.1 """"""""""""""""""" I used to play a game called Quest 1.1. (I think) It was an dungeon delving type game where you were like a letter walking alone hallways that were shaped by using inverse text. I remember you could either fight the monsters in the Maze or shoot them with arrows (and maybe holy water). I remember like that game quite a bit at the time and was wonder if anyone had a copy or knew of it's orgins, etc. Anyone? Thanks, Dain (A2.DAIN, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 107) >>>>> """"" Quest 1.1 sounds much like the game I've been looking for, Dain. I think we've discussed it in the past a few times (when discussing Rogue). If you find it, I'm interested in it too. (SFAHEY, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 110) >>>>> """"" I'm still keeping my eye out. Unfortunately I found out recently that a friend of mine who had it tossed his disks years ago. Oh wellll..... Dain (A2.DAIN, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 111) [EOA] [TGE] VERSIONS OF THE GAME, Empire """""""""""""""""""""""""""" I, for one, would love an Apple II version of the old "Empire" conquest game. Even one that runs on the text screen the way they did in the old days. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 14, Top 2, Msg 79) >>>>> """"" Are you referring to something like "Strategic Empire"? I've spent countless hours playing that on my IIGS. I think it was a ProDOS 16 game. This is the one where you start off with one city, and you have to choose whether to build armies or fighter planes or bombers or transport ships, etc. Then you go off and conquer other cities until you control the world. The user interface was very simple: you dragged an army to the place you wanted it to attack. There was a Mac version of Strategic Empire, too, and I think I remember seeing a Mac Shareware/freeware version of something simply called "Empire" which was more complex than the original (commercial) "Strategic Empire," and I'm guessing that is what you're referring to, right? _________ | homas (TCOMPTER, Cat 14, Top 2, Msg 80) >>>>> """"" "Strategic Empire" sounds like a clone of the original Empire; yes, that's the game I'm thinking of. It's kind of Civilization's granddaddy. I've always wanted that game on my IIgs. I bought an 8-bit Apple II version long ago, but it was awful. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 14, Top 2, Msg 81) >>>>> """"" Do you mean "Empire" from Interstel? It's got quite the cult following - and I play the PC EGA version quite a bit still. If you Google Empire and Interstel, be prepared for quite a few hits. (SFAHEY, Cat 14, Top 2, Msg 84) >>>>> """"" Yeah, that's the game. Interstel's Empire is actually based on a classic mainframe game. I don't care for Interstel's version (especially since there's no GS version), but would love to have a nice Apple IIgs version of Empire. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 14, Top 2, Msg 85) [EOA] [HDC] A HARD DRIVE SOLUTION FOR THE //c, //c+? """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Based on recent chats and development of related hardware, I think it's time to bring this topic back to life. The concept: adapt the logic in the CFFA card to an external smartport compatible format to create a hard drive type solution for the //c, //c+ etc. The preference that it be daisychainable with other external drives is a given. (SFAHEY, Cat 18, Top 2, Msg 25) >>>>> """"" I'd love to have a unit like this; it would be a godsend for me. Right now, I use a GS to produce disks for Syndicomm. It takes up enough space that I can't keep it on my desk -- it has to go in another room and is rather inconvenient. If I could set up one of my IIc+ systems, with just the machine, monitor, and one external floppy drive, I could actually stack it on my desk so that I wouldn't have to run around so much when producing disks. Of course, as a side effect, I'd have to write an 8-bit version of DiskMaker. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 18, Top 2, Msg 26) >>>>> """"" I don't spend a whole lot of money on the Apple II anymore, but this is something very high on my list of things I'd want. My IIc+ just kind of sits there. I'd love another excuse to do more tinkering. Dain (A2.DAIN, Cat 18, Top 2, Msg 27) [EOA] [JGS] Juiced.GS V9I2 """""""""""""" Juiced.GS V9I2 mailed today to US subscribers. International subscribers' copies will mail as soon as I receive them-- most likely early next week. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 547) >>>>> """"" Yes! I beat deadline again! :) Ryan Editor-in-Chief (A2.RYAN, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 548) >>>>> """"" We've gotten a report of a copy of Juiced.GS showing up this weekend missing the staples. If this happens to you, please let us know, so we can get reprints run. Thanks! Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 549) >>>>> """"" My copy of JuicedGS arrived in Arizona yesterday, right side up, but without staples. Cindy (CINDYADAMS, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 550) >>>>> """"" Hm. Only folks in the west have reported getting issues so far, and none with staples yet. Anyone else? Sorry 'bout this folks. I'm pretty tired of printing problems. Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 551) >>>>> """"" Juiced arrived here in Montana today..... without staples. I don't need a fixed one though. I'll just staple it myself. I haven't had a chance to read it yet. MT Steve (S.BERNBAUM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 555) >>>>> """"" I wouldn't for a moment think of worrying about the lack of staples for one issue. I'm just looking forward to reading my copy :) I would hope most of us would be happy to live with such a trivial problem this time around. Kim (KIMHOWE, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 560) >>>>> """"" It turns out I forgot to order the staples. Or, at least, I can't prove that I remembered, which amounts to the same thing. Their invoices don't indicate whether or not you ordered staples. At any rate, Kim doesn't have anything to worry about -- I'm going to staple the international copies before I re-mail them. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 562) >>>>> """"" I am amazed how long it's taking this issue to reach some areas of the U.S. I'm getting reports that lots of folks still haven't gotten their issues. Ryan Editor-in-Chief (A2.RYAN, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 556) >>>>> """"" Okay, here's a status update. I heard from the printer today. There are multiple problems that occurred, and they're trying to sort through them. 1. The printer no longer provides staples as an option; this is why none of the issues were stapled. Clearly, this is the last straw, and we will be finding a new printer before V9I3 is shipped. 2. For some reason, something went wrong with their automatic distribution network that assigns printing to the regional print shops. Normally, as you're all aware, issues are printed at a facility relatively close to the recipient, then mailed from there. For some reason, all of the issues were assigned to the Oakland print facility. 3. In addition to that, for whatever reason, it seems that many issues were not mailed at all. We don't know why yet. 4. They also substantially overcharged us for postage, and they're not clear on why yet. They're looking into what happened and are going to try to get that refunded. Part of the problem is that about a year ago, the US Postal Service, which has been handling our printing and mailing for us since Syndicomm took over Juiced.GS, outsourced their online printing and mailing service to a third party. Six months ago, that third party made substantial changes to the service that both added -- and removed -- features. They seem to also have introduced some kinks into the works. We will make sure everyone gets their V9I2 of Juiced, even if what it takes is getting a refund from the printer and going somewhere else to get them reprinted. We apologize wholeheartedly for this delay; although it's beyond our control, we still feel badly about it. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 597) [EOA] [SGA] STATUS OF gsAIM """"""""""""""" Does gsAIM still work? Is there a v1.5 in development? -Ken (KGAGNE, Cat 24, Top 10, Msg 7) >>>>> """"" I have no idea if gsAIM still works. There's actually a developmental 1.5 version but it's broken and I don't know why it crashes. It has a ton of new features and stuff, but because I can't figure out why it doesn't work, I haven't touched the code in years. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 24, Top 10, Msg 8) >>>>> """"" I haven't gotten gsAIM working the last few times I tried it. Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 24, Top 10, Msg 9) [EOA] [ITL]------------------------ ILLUMINATING THE LAMP | ----------------------------- An overview of GEnieLamp A2 and The Lamp! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Steven Weyhrich The author is busy getting his speeches ready for KansasFest. The series ILLUMINATING THE LAMP will continue in the August or September issue. [EOA] [TTC]------------------------------- THE TINKERER'S CORNER | ------------------------------------ by Lyle Syverson The IIgsX2 ~~~~~~~~~~ By Lyle Syverson You might want to refer to the February 2000 issue of _The Lamp_ for my first mention of the IIgsX2 in the article on "Dreamware". Sometimes it takes awhile for a dream to come true... and the details might vary to some extent. The IIgsX2, as described in this article, consists of two IIgs's connected to one monitor and one keyboard/mouse via a KVM switch. In one switch position the monitor and keyboard function with the first IIgs. In the second position the monitor and keyboard function with the second IIgs. You can start a task with one of the computers, then switch to the other to start another task. You can switch back and forth between the two computers to check on the progress. Start downloading a large file on one and play a game on the other, for example. Advantages of the IIgs '''''''''''''''''''''' 1. Two computers fit nicely on one desk. 2. More slots for a larger selection of slot cards. 3. Dual processors. :) 4. Multitasking. :) 5. ROM 1 and ROM 3 available at the click of a switch. What You Will Need '''''''''''''''''' 1. Two IIgs's. 2. One IIgs monitor. 3. One keyboard with mouse. 4. Two extra cables of the type used to connect the monitor to the IIgs. (A total of three of these cables.) 5. Two extra cables of the type used to connect the keyboard to the IIgs. (A total of three of these cables.) 6. A suitable KVM switch. Be sure you are getting one designed for the Mac with the D15 monitor connectors and the ADB keyboard connectors. These switches are offered for sale from time to time on the LEM-Swap list. (See 5. below) Additional Items You Might Need if You Opt for Data Transfer (See Below) '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 1. Two removable media drives such as the SyQuest 44/88 or Zip 100. 2. Mac computer with serial port. 3. Three PhoneNet connectors. 4. Telephone wire. Where to Get What You Need '''''''''''''''''''''''''' 1. Thrift stores. 2. Garage sales. 3. Usenet... comp.sys.apple2.marketplace 4. A2 on Syndicomm 5. LEM-Swap list 6. Alltech Electronics 8. Other World Computer 9. A2Central.com (System disks, if needed) Procedure ''''''''' 1. Connect the monitor to the common connecter on the KVM switch. 2. Connect the keyboard/mouse to the common connecter on the KVM switch. 3. Connect the first IIgs to the first set of connecters (monitor and keyboard/mouse) 4. Connect the second IIgs to the second set of connecters (monitor and keyboard/mouse) 5. Turn the switch to position one and boot the first IIgs. 6. Turn the switch to position two and boot the second IIgs. 7. Switch back and forth as desired. Transfering Data Between the Two IIgs's ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 1. Floppy disks. 2. Larger removable disk devices such as the SyQuest 44/88 drives or the Zip 100 drives. Identical drives, one on each of the two IIgs's, equals a "portable hard drive" that can be accessed by either computer. 3. Both computers connected via AppleTalk to the same Mac. Transfer data to the Mac with one IIgs. Retreive it from the Mac with the other IIgs. Each of the IIgs's would also have access to a CD ROM drive connected the Mac. Refer to the November 2002 issue of The Lamp! for information on setting up AppleTalk between a IIgs and a Mac. [EOA] [ANS]------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM | ------------------------------------ by Lyle Syverson [TSU] TO SIGN UP FOR SYNDICOMM ONLINE """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Please visit our web site at http://www.syndicomm.com for information or to sign up! (Logon message) [EOA] [JSC] June 2004 Issue of Syndicommotion Available """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The June 2004 (Volume 3, Number 6) issue of Syndicommotion has been emailed to subscribers. The HTML edition can be found online at the following URL: http://www.syndicomm.com/syndicommotion/v3n6.html or by selecting menu option #3 from Page 2 on Syndicomm Online (type "m2;3" without the quotes at any menu prompt). (KGAGNE, HelpDesk, Cat 5, Top 4, Msg 18) [EOA] [TKW] Thanks For Ken's Work on Syndicommotion """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I'd like to publicly thank Ken for all the hard work he does on Syndicommotion. He does a fine job of it, and it's nice to see each month what's going on all over our little online world. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, HelpDesk, Cat 5, Top 4, Msg 19) >>>>> """"" Thanks, Sheppy. :) And thanks for proofreading and publishing the newsletter. (KGAGNE, HelpDesk, Cat 5, Top 4, Msg 20) [EOA] [LTE]------------------------------- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | ------------------------------------ NO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THIS MONTH """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The mail box for Letters to the Editor remained empty this month. [EOA] AN INVITATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Express your opinions about the comings and goings in the world of the Apple II computers. Send your comments to Lyle Syverson, Editor The Editor reserves the right to edit any material submitted. The Editor reserves the right to reject any material he considers unsuitable for publication in _The Lamp!_. [EOA] [KFF]------------------------------ KFest 2004 | ----------------------------------- [KF4] KansasFest 2004 """"""""""""""" KansasFest 2004 is planned for July 20-25, 2004 at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. (Heading: Cat 5, Top 22) [EOA] [KFR] REGISTRATION FOR KFest 2004 """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Visit the KFest Home Page at: http://www.kfest.org/ and follow the registration link. [EOA] [STS] SOMETHING TO SHOW AT KFest THIS YEAR? """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" So, anyone got something to show this year in K.C.? Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 5, Top 6, Msg 1) >>>>> """"" As hinted already, I'll have something interesting to show. It was a topic of conversation at last year's KFest--there was a lot of "Wouldn't it be cool if", "I'd love to see this", and "I wonder why such and such wasn't done". My project has been on the want list for several years and I got it in a state of doneness already (it works correctly and it doesn't crash). Unfortunately, after sharing what I did, I was advised that certain parts need to be completely rewritten. So, I can't guarantee a release will occur at KFest (It's not my fault, honest), but it'll be a cool show. (GEOFF, Cat 5, Top 22, Msg 17) [EOA] [SWK] Steven Weyhrich TO PRESENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT KansasFest 2004 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I'm very happy to announce that Steven Weyhrich will be presenting the Keynote address at KFest 2004. Cindy (CINDYADAMS, Cat 5, Top 22, Msg 14) [EOA] [PTS] Peikop Endropov Airport Taxi Service """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Don't forget to let Peikop Endropov Airport Taxi Service know your schedule, and whether you are renting or need a ride. Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Mon 3 May 04 7:49:48 pm cknoblo@cox.com - Via Spectrum v2.5.3 & SOAR v1.0b10 KFest 2004, July 20-25, 2004 - 78 days till KFest On cable via LANceGS & Marinetti 2.0.1 - Thank you, Richard. A2 RTC Staff - Sunday Night House Party - carlk@syndicomm.com (CARLK, Cat 5, Top 22, Msg 15) [EOA] [IHS] It's HackFest Season! """"""""""""""""""""" Time to sharpen your brains and flex your programming muscles -- HackFest 2004 approaches! The rules are the same as always, but follow: KansasFest 2004 HackFest Rules 1. Contest begins at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, July 21, and ends at 7:00 AM on Saturday, July 24 so that judging can begin. The winners will be announced during the Saturday morning sessions. Entries submitted late won't be considered. Entries may be done by individuals or teams; however, individual achievement counts. 2. Three judges will be selected by the KFest committee to judge the competition; at least one of them will be available at all times, to provide assistance and judgement calls. At least one judge will be a non-programmer. 3. Entries must be written entirely during the allotted time; no source code -- printed or on any form of computer-readable media -- may be used (although sample source code printed inside standard and acceptable reference materials is allowed), and the program must run on an Apple II model present at KFest. 4. Any version of any development environment and programming language may be used; however, there may not be any libraries, header files, or macro sets used that aren't standard-issue for that version of the development environment or programming language. 5. Programs can't require unusual additional software or hardware; it's up to the judges to decide what constitutes "unusual." The participant should ask in advance. 6. Programs can't take unfair advantage of system addons written in advance for the sole purpose of easing the work to be done during the contest period. Any extensions or other system addons used by an entry must have been released to the general public at least three months prior to the contest date. 7. Entries will be judged on completeness, cleverness, and the somewhat vague "cool" factor. Entries don't have to be useful if they're otherwise impressive, and they don't have to be "finished." 8. All entry programs are the property of the creator, and do not have to be released to the general public at any time; however, we hope that entries will be distributed by some means (whether for free or otherwise) when ready. However, entries may be described or discussed, including screen shots (where applicable), by the KFest committee for promotional purposes, or by legitimate Apple II community press. The following lists are not necessarily complete lists of everything allowed; these are to be taken as "givens." If it's not on the list, please ask for confirmation. Acceptable software: System software Development environment (no customizations) GSBug Nifty List Marinetti Exerciser ORCA/Debugger, Splat! DesignMaster, Foundation, Genesys, ResLin Talking Tools Spectrum, ProTERM, ANSITerm Acceptable hardware: Apple II computer, monitor, disk drives, hard drives CD-ROM drive, tape drive Hard disk controller card Sound card (speakers/headphones/etc) Accelerator card (any speed) RAM card Accepted reference material: All official Apple reference materials (including manuals, technical notes, and file type notes). Reference manuals included with development tools and software. Commercially-available reference manuals. Any other hardware, software, or reference material needs the approval of the judges in advance. When in doubt, ask the judges. (Eric Shepherd, Owner, Syndicomm: http://www.syndicomm.com) (Via KFest Mailing List) [EOA] [INN]------------------------------ EXTRA INNINGS | ----------------------------------- About The Lamp! The Lamp! is published on the fifteenth of every month on """"""""""""""" the WEB at: http://lamp.a2central.com/ This publication produced entirely with real or emulated Apple II computers using Appleworks 5.1 and Hermes. Apple II Forever! * The Lamp! is (c) copyright 2004 by Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W. All rights reserved. * To reach The Lamp! on Internet email send mail to thelamp@sheppyware.net * All issues of The Lamp! are available at The Lamp! Home Page, http://lamp.a2central.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of A2Central.com, Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, or Lyle Syverson. Forum messages are reprinted verbatim and are included in this publication with permission from the individual authors. A2Central.com, Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, and Lyle Syverson do not guarantee the accuracy or suitability of any information included herein. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may not be reprinted without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Registered computer user groups, not for profit publications , and other interested parties may write the publisher to apply for permission to reprint any or all material. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< [EOF]