Random Access Humor Distributor
How to Become a RAH Distributor
Random Access Humor (RAH) is a monthly electronic humor magazine. RAH is not specific to, or affiliated with, any online system or BBS network. RAH is one of the last bastions of the fine art of political incorrectness.
The publisher of RAH is looking for Gateway Systems and Official Distribution Sites throughout the online world.
Philosophy Behind the RAH Distribution System
Official RAH Distributors and Gateways are not meant to be exclusive RAH distributors, they are meant to be *consistent* RAH distributors. The idea is to provide sites within local calling distance of as many people as practical where a reader can obtain the current issue of RAH, preferably with as little hassle as possible.
Gateway systems must meet the following criteria:
- They must have a node address on a Fido-technology network to which the publisher belongs. See the publisher listing for a current list of eligible networks. They must also have a node address (or other applicable membership identifier) on at least one network to which the publisher does not belong. The other network(s) do *not* have to be Fido-technology networks.
- They must be capable or receiving the monthly issues through a "Tick" style file-echo system. Gateways will receive each monthly RAH issue directly from the publisher's system. Since February 1993 RAH has been available in two formats: the original one-piece ASCII text format; and the READROOM.TOC format, supporting the popular Readroom BBS periodical reading door. Gateways are required to make both formats available.
- They must make both versions of the current issue of RAH available for download to all first-time BBS callers. (If they operate a BBS.)
- They must make both versions of the current issue of RAH available for File Request by any Wazoo/EMSI compatible system which may call. They may not operate in "curmudgeon mode" as far as RAH is concerned. In plain English, Gateways must honor every request for RAH made in any valid request format supported by the networks to which they belong and the software which they operate.
- They are encouraged to offer back issues of RAH in the same manner as in 3 and 4 above, but this is not mandatory.
- They must also receive the RAHDIST private message echo and "echo" it to any Official Distribution Site on any network which they serve.
Official Distribution Sites (ODSs) must meet the following criteria:
- They must obtain the current issue of RAH each month from the publisher's system, a Gateway System, another ODS, or through a file echo. They may obtain the issues through a "Tick" style file-echo system, by FReq or any method they and the supplier can agree on. Note that the Publisher, Gateways and ODSs are *not* obligated to send RAH to any other site at their own expense. Both versions of RAH are now available through the SDS file echo NEWSLETR and the EPubNet echo EP-MAG, which is available through the Filebone. Internet users may obtain an uncompressed text version of RAH via anonymous FTP from: uglymouse.css.itd.umich.edu Directory: pub/Zines/RAH
- They must make the current issue of RAH available for download to all first-time BBS callers.
- They are encouraged to make the current issue of RAH available for File Request or through any equivalent technology they may use. If the ODS elects to provide this service they should not operate in "curmudgeon mode" as far as RAH is concerned. In other words, they should not limit requests for RAH to those in their "nodelist" or other network list.
- They are encouraged to offer back issues of RAH in the same manner as in 2 and 3 above, but this is not mandatory.
- They are encouraged to receive the RAHDIST private message echo but this is not mandatory.
Both Gateway and ODS systems may display a statement to their callers identifying the system as an "Official RAH Distribution Site" although this is optional.
All Gateway and ODS systems are urged to obtain each new RAH issue on the first day of the month. They are *required* to obtain each issue by the fifth (5th) day of the month.
All Gateway and ODS system operators are asked to report to the publisher immediately any unauthorized use of RAH or the copyrighted contents of any individual issue that they may encounter. Please investigate any hearsay reports of violations before reporting them to the publisher.
Gateway and ODS system operators are granted permission to convert each RAH issue to a different archival format for use on their own system, but the original text file must remain unaltered.
Current and back issues of RAH are always available by download or FReq from the RAH Publishing system:
The Puffin's Nest BBS Pasadena, MD. USA Sysop: Dave Bealer
FidoNet> 1:261/1129 (410) 437-3463 1200-14400 (V.32bis)
SailNet> 53:5000/1129
Current issue (text format): FReq - RAH
Current issue (READROOM.TOC format): FReq - RAHR
Back issues (text): FReq - RAHyymm.ZIP yy=year mm=month
(e.g. FReq: RAH9209.ZIP to receive debut issue)
Back issues (Readroom): FReq - RAHyymmR.ZIP yy=year mm=month
(only RAH9302R.ZIP or later issues)
Current copy of this document: FReq: RAHDIST
RAH Writer's Guidelines: FReq: RAHWRITEThere is also a private message echo for RAH Distributors, the echo-tag is RAHDIST. This message echo is optional for ODSs, but mandatory for Gateway Systems. If you want to "gate" RAH to ODSs in another network, you must also "gate" the RAHDIST message echo between the networks. This requirement exists to ensure that all distributors without direct netmail access to the publisher may still keep in touch. Although the RAHDIST echo is optional at this time, the publisher reserves the right to make it mandatory for *all* distribution sites at anytime in the future. RAHDIST is a *private* message echo. Only RAH distribution sysops should have access.
To apply for Gateway status, send a netmail message to Dave Bealer at 1:261/1129 identifying the names and zones of the networks for which you can act as gateway. DO NOT begin gating operations until your gateway status has been verified by the publisher.
The international response to RAH has been amazing. To save money, gateways on continents other than North America may obtain the RAHDIST message echo and RAH file echo from the Primary Gateway for their continent. Thus only one distributor on each of the other continents has to call the publisher's system with cross-ocean calls. The following systems are RAH Primary Gateways:
-= Europe =-
Datanet BBS Voorschoten, Netherlands Sysop: Ed Bakker
FidoNet> 2:281/101 31-71-617784 14400 (V.32bis)
Digital-Net> 15:200/512 MomNet> 71:2000/2To become an ODS, contact the publisher or the nearest existing Gateway or ODS. You may be required to obtain each month's copy at your own expense.
There are currently no restrictions regarding the distribution of RAH via modem. Distribution of RAH by hardcopy, diskette or CD-ROM for a fee is forbidden without express written consent of the publisher.
Remember everyone, this is only a hobby. We're supposed to be having fun, aren't we!?
Dave Bealer, Publisher
Pasadena, Maryland, USA
May 30, 1993
