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Electric Dreams BBS

15 June, 2007 20:44

While I was young and growing up, I was always fascinated with any kind of technology.  I used to read the computer shopper like it was a bible, and several other computer related magazines.  My interest in computers never stopped growing, and I was soon looking at ways to obtain some piece of equipment, as long as it had a keyboard.

My family didn't have a lot of money.  My mother worked two jobs for many years trying to pay the bills, so purchasing what was a rather expensive toy back then was somewhat unrealistic.

My first computer was a Texas Instrument (DSP like).  I don't remember how I obtained this box, but I don't think we purchased it.

I believe it ran some form of PC DOS with very shitty XT emulation.  I was lucky to get any program at all running on it.  Wordperfect was smooth on the machine, as if that says something.  It did have however a BASIC interpretor, and that was it's purpose in life until I got my hands on a couple hundred dollars.

My next machine was an XT compatible box with a built in keyboard and a 10 or 11" screen.  I have to admit that it was a peace of crap, but when I got it in my bedroom I couldn't help but brag and drool.

I wasn't lost from technology in any means.  Viterbo University was only a couple blocks away with gopher and ftp access.  I walked and talked like a kid, so I was a kid, but every time I walked into that place they asked if I was a student.  The first time they asked I blurted out yes, almost in tears fearing they would kick me out.  No, she just ok, thanks.  That was my home for a while.

I began saving up money to purchase a Tandy, 486/SX2 at a Radio Shack in our mall.  It took almost a year to save, after hard work with what ended to be a 4 year paper route, and a hundred dollars or so from my mother.  I felt high, got it home, and just stared at it for 10 minutes or so before I even turned it on.  After this purchase is where my fun began.

I had been dreaming of starting a BBS before I ever signed into a system.  I had a 2400 baud modem, and all I needed now was a phone line.  That was a hard one to push over to the parent, but the paper went through and I soon had my own number.

I started to familirize myself with Frontdoor and Remote Access.  With very little prior experience with network systems, it was a fun challenge making everything work the way it should.

I decided the 2400 baud modem just wouldn't do, so I purchased a 14400 baud device and started advertising my BBS, "Electric Dreams BBS".  No, I was not aware any BBS with the same name existed elseware.

About this stage I was applying for FIDO type networks for my users and testing which games I liked to play, and oh the users also.

I started to meet people in the local BBS community.  Jeremy Newman whom ran Moonshine On-Line helped me immensly with software and I learned quite a bit from him.  In fact for a short period I took over Moonshine On-Line when he was unable to maintain it.  The 28800 baud modems just came out, and what does a kid do with the hundred dollars he has, just laying around?  Buy one from Jeremy whom got his hands on a bunch of them on the cheap.

So I was pretty hot now.  I had the fastest speed modem you could get.  I grew sick of RA and started looking for a more solid BBS software solution.  I ended up purchasing a Search Light BBS license and ran that until I discontinued the BBS scene in it's entirity.  Also around that time the BBS community was dwindeling and internet services were becoming more popular.  I thought I would take one more crack at a project, so I managed to sneak a phone line from our home voice number into my room and used it as an internet portal for the BBS.  This is where I took my first crack at Minix. 

After the experience of using Minix, it opened my mind to alternative forms of computer technology which in the end lead me to where I am today, a FreeBSD and Linux geek.  My BBS ran for two years, had a moderate user population, and gave me the experience to be one step ahead of many people in this field, from then on.

During my BBS days I was studying Pascal and created one or two doors which I see floating around, even to this day.  What followed the BBS was just that, a new interest in programming and software systems. 

Random Thought : I found a place in La Crosse. I now just have to manage to get my belongings moved in.

A year ago I was writing:

I am maladjusted and you are all that is mighty.

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Main Entry: spew
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English spIwan; akin to Old High German spIwan to spit, Latin spuere, Greek ptyein intransitive verb
1 : VOMIT
2 : to come forth in a flood or gush
3 : to ooze out as if under pressure : EXUDE transitive verb
1 : VOMIT
2 : to send or cast forth with vigor or violence or in great quantity -- often used with out - spew-er noun
-- Merriam-Webster

Land where drunk cows swim and home to my daily hand