          ============================================================
                                                                       
           The USBBS List Information File - Edition #216 - May, 2004
                                                                       
                                www.usbbs.org                          
                                                                       
                          Published since June, 1984                   
                    (C)  Copyright 1997-2004  Brent Yandell            
                              All Rights Reserved                      

          ============================================================
                TABLE OF CONTENTS                        Page
               -----------------                         ----
                USBBS List Publication Resumed / Changes    1
                News for USBBS #216 and Recent Lists        2
                About the USBBS List                        3
                How to Add, Change or Delete a Listing      4
                Volunteers Needed - Additions, Deletions    5
                Brief USBBS List History                    6
                Disclaimer and License                      7
                Files in the USBBS Distribution ZIP         8




     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 1  *  USBBS List Publication Resumed
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     A Letter from the Editor:

     An "edition" of USBBS (such as #216) occurs when the USBBS contents
     are all combined into a .ZIP or self-extracting .EXE.  These are no
     longer released once-per-month, or on any scheduled basis or interval.
     The more often new BBS systems are listed on USBBS, the more often an
     "edition" will be published.  At this time, I estimate an "edition"
     will be published three or four times a year.

     It is important to note that USBBS -is- updated between editions. To
     view new listings added between "editions" see the "View" pages at
     www.usbbs.org.

     I see a very positive side to the new "edition" release intervals.
     Now, when someone sees a new edition of USBBS, they will know it
     is substantial.  Back in the eighties and well into the nineties,
     a large part of a large BBS community eagerly downloaded new USBBS
     editions as soon as they came out, because they knew each month was
     a substantial change since the last.  For the last few years, only
     the "faithful" did this, as members of the now small BBS community
     knew there was nothing substantially new from one month to the next.

     My thanks to everyone for their continued support of the USBBS List
     during its recent long hiatus. A special thanks to those who conveyed
     their support and understanding during this time. Thanks to Daryl 
     Stout, Max Stolz and Christopher Friend for some of the updates to
     this edition.

     A huge thanks to John Cooper for continuing to send updates during 
     this hiatus even though it appeared they might never be used. John 
     said that as long as I refused to proclaim the list 'dead', he had 
     faith I would resume publication some day. Thank you sir.

     Please read the next section for changes to the USBBS List.

     Brent Yandell
     USBBS List Editor


     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 2  *  News for USBBS #216 and Recent Editions
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     Edition #216
     ------------
     NOTE:  The nomenclature "###" is referred to often below, as in
     USBBS###.ZIP.  The ### refers to an edition number of USBBS, such
     as 216 (USBBS216.ZIP).

     There were 97 new listings added to this edition. We were able to
     verify 220 of the listings from the last edition of USBBS as "up".
     There were 269 listings deleted from the last addition. There are
     still an additional 121 listings marked for deletion (not responding)
     in this edition. We will continue to try be reach them, and if not
     they will be deleted in the next edition.

     USBBS distribution .ZIP and self-extracting .EXE files now contain
     an off-line browser (HTML) edition of USBBS. After extraction, 
     select _START.HTM to view the off-line version of the USBBS List.
     Both distribution files still contain text versions of the list.

     The self-extracting version of the USBBS List has been remodeled.
     The new version runs in Windows only. After the user runs the USBBS
     self-extracting file, the _START.HTM file will automatically be
     displayed in the user's web browser.

     An extended description field has been added to the list. This text
     may be up to 70 characters long and allows for a brief comment or
     description of the listing.  This field begins in column #140 of
     USBBS###.LST. Note: as this is a new field, it will take some time
     for the list to become populated with this information.

     A file named ABOUT###.TXT replaces USBBS###.NWS and USBBS###.TXT 
     in the USBBS distribution archives. This file contains news,
     how-to and information about USBBS.

     There are minor changes to USBBS###.LST abbreviations and structure.
     Great care was taken not to mix things up too much, for the sake
     of existing USBBS###.LST viewing software, scripts and doors.
     Changes include:

     - "Shotgun" has been added as a BBS software type. It is
       designated by a lower-case "a" in column 46.

     -  Columns 48-49 indicate the month and year the listing was last
        updated. Column 48 (previously unused) is the month, "a" thru "l"
        ("a"=January, "l"=December). Column 49 is the year, "a" thru ???
        ("a"=2004, "b"=2005 and so-on). Column 49 used to be the number of
        months since the last update relative to the current USBBS issue.
        Since USBBS is no longer published monthly, this was no longer
        possible to figure. The "!" used in column 49 to indicate a BBS
        was not answering has been expanded and moved to column 58.

     -  Column 58 (status indicator) has been expanded. In addition to
        "space" indicating no change and "*" indicating "new or changed",
        "!" indicates the system has been reported as not answering and
        will be deleted in the next issue unless updated. "!" is used
        when ALL LISTED access methods are reported as not answering.
        "?" indicates a system's Telnet is answering, but Dial-up is not.
        "#" indicates a system's Dial-up is answering, but Telnet is not.

     -  If column 140 contains a "+" character, it indicates an extended
        description follows in columns 141 through 210.

     -  A short -[NewsAlert]- caption was added in USBBS###.LST files
        (near the end) which applications (on-line viewing scripts and
        doors) may pull and display to the caller. For example, this
        edition's news alert is:
        USBBS News Alert: June, 2004 is the USBBS List's 20th Anniversary!


     The USLIST.EXE file is no longer available or enclosed with USBBS.
     This was useful for viewing the contents of USBBS ZIP files. This 
     functionality was replaced by the browser (HTML) files now enclosed
     in the USBBS ZIP files. This utility was also designed to create 
     update files which members of the BBS community could use to help
     update USBBS. While this was widely used upon its introduction 1997,
     the last few years have yielded hardly any USLIST.EXE based updates.

     USBBSDoor version 6.5 will be released the first week of May for
     Sysops who can run DOS doors on their systems. USBBSDoor adds
     compatibility for the new features of the USBBS List (listed above).
     Download USBDOR65.ZIP by clicking on the USBBSDoor button at
     www.usbbs.org.



     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 3  *  About the USBBS List
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     The USBBS List is the oldest and one of the most respected BBS Lists
     in North America. It has been published since June, 1984... for over
     19 years!

     USBBS Contains listings of:
        * Systems with a dial-up telephone number.
        * Systems with Telnet access.
        * Systems with Web access (login using browser)
        * Systems with any combination of the above access methods.

    The USBBS List's two missions are:
     
     (1) Be a starting point for someone looking for a BBS to call. It 
     has never been the ambition of the USBBS List to list every BBS in
     existence or to include everything there is to know about a BBS which
     is listed. Such an attempt would be futile at best.

     (2) USBBS is and always has been an absolutely FREE service to the 
     BBS community, both for BBS Sysops and for BBS users. There is no 
     charge for a BBS to be listed on the USBBS List, and there is 
     no charge for a caller to use the USBBS List.

     The USBBS List is available on many fine bulletin boards around North
     America and on the Internet. Wide distribution of the USBBS List is 
     permitted and encouraged. If you are a Sysop, download the current 
     list from www.usbbs.org and post it in your file section as a service
     to your users. If you are a BBS user, upload it to the boards you use.




     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 4  *  How to Add, Change or Delete a Listing
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     NOTE: There are no fees to be listed on or to use the USBBS List.

     To add, change or delete a listing on the USBBS List, surf to:

     www.usbbs.org

     Click on the "Update" button to add a BBS or update a current listing.
     Click on the "Delete" button to delete a BBS.

     Revisions submitted by other means will not be incorporated into the 
     list. This insures the list contains complete information.

     To submit multiple (more than ten or so) additions, changes, deletions
     or BBS "up" reports, contact the editor at usbbs.editor@verizon.net
     for assistance.

     Requirements for inclusion on the USBBS List are:

       *  The BBS must welcome -ALL- callers.
       *  Dial-up BBS - 24 hour, 7 days per week service.
       *  Telnet BBS - Substantially 24 hour, 7 days per week service.
       *  Web BBS - There must be a user-name/password log-in on the site.

     Although the "US" is USBBS is U.S. (as in U.S.A.) there are Canadian
     systems listed as well.  Non-U.S. and non-Canada listings are accepted
     if they are a Telnet BBS and offer English as a language selection.

     These criteria are admittedly subjective and rest in the discretion of
     the editor of the list. The editor reserves the absolute, discretionary
     right to determine appearance, format and content of the USBBS List.




     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 5  *  Volunteers Needed - Additions, Deletions
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     USBBS remains dedicated to being the highest quality BBS list. In 
     order to do this, USBBS needs good BBS citizens to lend a hand. 

     NEW LISTINGS NEEDED!  There are many systems which are not listed on
     the USBBS List. While the USBBS List does not aspire to list every BBS
     there is, many are not listed which would mutually benefit Sysops and
     callers. If you know of a BBS that is not listed and it meets the 
     requirements for inclusion on the list, encourage the Sysop to list
     the system, or submit the information yourself. Adding a new listing
     at www.usbbs.org takes about one minute.

     DELETION REPORTS NEEDED!  Bulletin board systems come and go, and as
     important as it is for the USBBS List to continue to add new listings,
     it is equally important that listings are removed when they go down.
     If you try to reach a BBS listed in the USBBS List and it is not there,
     please take a moment to let the editor know. The "Delete" feature at
     www.usbbs.org takes only a few seconds to use.



     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 6  *  Brief USBBS List History
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     USBBS - 1984
     ------------
     Pete Olympia, USBBS founder and first editor, started the "RBBS List"
     and later changed the name to "USBBS".  For many years it was also 
     often (mistakenly) called "Darwin's List", after the Darwin BBS 
     run by Pete, which was the first home of the USBBS List.

     USBBS - 1986
     ------------
     Meade Friersen becomes a USBBS co-editor, handling the "PC-Pursuit"
     designations in USBBS. PC-Pursuit was a service of US Sprint which
     allowed callers to dial systems in and around major cities for a 
     monthly fee.

     USBBS - 1987
     ------------
     PCBoard becomes the most listed BBS software in USBBS. Previously, 
     the most listed was RBBS. PCBoard would remain the most listed BBS
     software in USBBS for the next twelve years. USBBSDoor 1.0 released.

     USBBS - 1988
     ------------
     Meade Friersen becomes the second USBBS editor. Robert Blacher
     dedicates a node of his Computer Connections BBS to being the USBBS
     home BBS. The number of systems listed in USBBS tops 1000.

     USBBS - 1991
     ------------
     Meade begins accepting USBBS updates at his Compuserve mail account
     (a very early sign of the times to come?).

     USBBS - 1992
     ------------
     Bob Breedlove becomes the third USBBS editor. Bob added a news file
     to the USBBS archive, the first time USBBS was distributed with more
     than one file in the ZIP. The number of systems listed in USBBS tops
     2000. The 100th edition of the USBBS List is published.

     USBBS - 1993
     ------------
     The number of systems listed in USBBS tops 3000.

     USBBS - 1994
     ------------
     Bob begins distributing USBBS on the Internet, first in Usenet then
     as a FTP download. The number of systems listed in USBBS tops 4000.
     
     USBBS - 1995
     ------------
     Bob begins the first USBBS web site under the Channel 1 BBS domain,
     provided by Brian and Tess Miller.

     USBBS - 1996
     ------------
     The number of listings tops 5000 on the USBBS List in June. It
     would remain above 5000 for the next ten months.

     USBBS - 1997
     ------------
     Brent Yandell becomes the fourth USBBS editor, and immediately
     adds Telnet addresses to the USBBS List.

     USBBS - 1999
     ------------
     Brent obtains the "www.usbbs.org" URL, and moves the web site to
     space provided by Roy Timberman, a former Sysop. Web BBS Log-in 
     addresses are added to the USBBS List. Wildcat/WinServer software
     becomes the most listed BBS software in USBBS.

     USBBS - 2001
     ------------
     The 200th edition of the USBBS List is published. Meade Frierson,
     the USBBS List's second editor, passed away in September.

     USBBS - 2004
     ------------
     As of June, USBBS has been published for 20 years. For the first time,
     USBBS permits a free-form text area (70 characters) for an additional
     comment to help describe a listing. Synchronet becomes the most listed
     BBS software in USBBS.



     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 7  *  Disclaimer and License
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     DISCLAIMER
     ----------
     List accuracy is not assured.  Use this material entirely at your own
     risk.  All information is submitted to the editor by the BBS community.
     No attempt is made by the editor to verify any information submitted.

     Anyone who uses any of the USBBS files assumes any and all liabilities
     for anything which may result as a consequence of such use.  Under no
     circumstances shall Brent Yandell be liable for any loss of profit or
     any other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental,
     consequential, or other damages, arising out of the use or inability 
     to use any or all of the USBBS files.

     The editor reserves the absolute, discretionary right to determine
     the appearance, format and content of the USBBS List.


     LICENSE
     -------
     Free distribution of the USBBS List is permitted and encouraged as an
     upload/download to Bulletin Board Systems and around the Internet.
     No modifications may be made to ANY of the USBBS List files, including
     the addition or removal of ANY files in the archive (.ZIP or. EXE) in
     which it is distributed. The USBBS List may not be bundled with any
     other product or service.



     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     *  Page 8  *  Files in the USBBS Distribution Archive
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     USBBS List Edition #216, May, 2004

     File Name       Size    Date         File Content
     ------------   ------   ----------   --------------------------------
     USBBS216.LST    59665   05-01-2004   The USBBS List itself     (text)
     ABOUT216.TXT    19077   05-01-2004   USBBS Info, News, etc.    (text)
     _START.HTM      17250   05-01-2004   Start for browser version (HTML)
     USBBSN1.HTM     52753   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBSD1.HTM     54713   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBST1.HTM     41447   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBST2.HTM     41347   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBST3.HTM     41897   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBST4.HTM     24099   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBSW1.HTM     33944   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     USBBSZ1.HTM      7830   05-01-2004   File for browser version  (HTML)
     FILE_ID.DIZ       270   05-01-2004   Standard BBS description file


     If you are using PKZip (DOS or Windows versions) the following message
     should be displayed when extracting or testing USBBS216.ZIP.

     Authentic files Verified!   # SKA927
     Yandell Custom Software
     www.usbbs.org - The Home of the USBBS List


