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The Other Editorial
By Scot Rhoads
With this issue, we complete the Rose & Quill's first Wheel o' the Year. It has been a challenge to get this magazine going due to inherent difficulties and an abundance of what the Chinese might call interesting times. As soon as we committed ourselves to the magazine, we (almost accidentally) opened a second location for our shop. On top of this, we entered a painful slump. Things are only now clearing up, leaving us much more stable (that which does not destroy us . . .). Now I look forward to being able to make the Rose & Quill an even better magazine in the coming year. We have gotten many wonderful responses to our pleas for submissions. I am confident that we will continue to grow and improve. As economics allow, we will increase the size of the magazine so that we will continue to offer as much as possible.
Please let us know what you would like to see. If you, like Ann Forfreedom (see Letters), have a problem with our traditional grammar, let me know. If you would like to see more emphasis on one area or another, let me know. If you would like to provide some of this information, please do! As I have said many times, I would like the Rose & Quill to be a forum of exchange. There is a great variety of material in the metaphysical community, but it is still difficult to get to much of it. For this reason, I would like to set up a BBS. In the mean time, thanks to sysop (system operator—the guy who runs it) Skosch Penrose, I recently took over moderatorship of the Pagan conference on the Rasta Think Tank BBS: (619) 282-1211 (9600 baud HST). This is the base of RastaNet International, a democratic, cooperative network with primarily controversy and debate/discussion oriented conferences. There is no access fee, it operates through donations. Please call and leave me a message if you can.
B.B.S. means bulletin board system. It refers to a computer set up to receive, save and transmit information from other computers via phone lines. Users call in, read and answer messages from other users and send and receive files (text or programs). Much networking, socializing and philosophizing goes on. I see BBS's as an early manifestation of the New Age. They offer nearly unlimited freedom of communication.
To give you an idea of some of the variety available, here are the conferences available on the Rasta Think Tank alone: RASTANET (Administrative forum, public), RastaZne (RastaZine submissions/discussions), PeaceNow (political discussion/debate), PhiloNet (philosophical discussion/debate, not religion), Religion (religious discussion/debate), Computer (technical issues), Program (help with programming), CProg (Turbo C, MicroSoft, etc.), Munshi (educational software, schools, ideas), Time (history and anthropology research, theories, etc.), Travel (places to visit around the world), BardLair (writing, literature, publications, editing), BBSaware (ads), Magick (occult, mysticism), Astrolog (stars, zodiac, etc.), MIDI (computer music), Womyn (feminist discussion for both sexes), EarthNow (ecological news/discussion), Culture (discussion/debate of current events), Music (software, composers, rock `n' roll, etc.),
PAGAN that's me! (Pagan/Wiccan discussion), LANaROO (LAN's and Networks), ASP-Link (Association of ShareWare Professionals), Astron (Astronomy/ physics), Recovery (overcoming addictions), Parents (for past, present, and future parents), Espernto (discussions in/about Esperanto), FamTree (family lineage/roots).
Most of the improvements in our world are intimately tied to communication. So many societies seem depressingly ethnocentric. This seems to correlate with cultural isolation. The more exposure people have to other cultures and ideas, the more tolerant they seem to be. Communication helps people to learn to be less xenophobic. It also allows people to mobilize against social problems—it makes them aware, it inspires them, and it can act as the vehicle of their actions. Television, for instance, has already played a major role in reducing racism, and is now focusing on drug problems.
But mass media tends to offer mass solutions. The ideas that it can communicate are for large numbers of people. There is still a strong tendency toward homogenization. Thus, there is a large degree of intolerance inherent in mass communication. The advantage of mass personal communication is that one sees a huge variety of opinions, rather than polished gospel. You can talk with anyone and discover his motivations and thought processes. Respectable ideas are no longer the realm of faceless experts. You learn that, even though ideas may differ considerably, people function in very similar ways—and nearly all have the best intentions.
The tremendous freedom and personal nature of BBS communication can give you an awareness of others that leads to tolerance. The intolerant become even more alone; the absence of prepackaged ideas makes it harder to slavishly agree on a position. An amazing amount of ideas and information circulates. If you want to find out more about a subject (medicine, databases, bicycles, etc.) you can find a BBS that specializes in it. If you are interested in a particular philosophy (Paganism, Fundamental Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Atheism, etc.), find a BBS. If something scares you or interests you, you can find out more. If you don't know where to look, call your favorite BBS and ask. If it's one of many national networks of BBS's, your request will circulate across the country and perhaps internationally. If no such BBS exists, make one—you can do it for less than $1000. With this ability to find out directly from others how they think and feel, it eliminates the fear that stems from lack of understanding.
Those who choose to be fearful and prejudiced will remain so—this is difficult to eliminate. But most people will become more open and learn not to feel threatened by others. This has been the trend in society for at least a century and arguably since the Renaissance. If people wanted to be more closed minded, they certainly would be by now.
I consider tolerance, understanding, freedom and availability of information and the exciting cooperative exploration these bring to be hallmarks of the New Age. These are also some of the benefits I see from the computer revolution. As computers become more available, they will transform our society. BBS's offer communication. Communication is a powerful humanizing influence. To kill or hate others you must dehumanize them. Thus, BBS's help to bring in the New Age of Peace and Love.
Personal computers are now about as common as early TV sets, and the trend is decidedly toward the kind of saturation that TV now enjoys. Even now, you can get a decent new system for less than $500 (640k XT with a 1200 baud modem), which can give you access to the world's BBS's. One can see the prevalence of computers in the abundance of BBS's. Here is a listing of occult boards:
OCCULT08.LST—October 1, 1989
This is a list of all known public computer bulletin boards in North America having occult, metaphysical, or religious (non-Christian) interests. This list may be freely copied and distributed, provided that it is not altered. This list will be updated on an irregular schedule, approximately every two or three months. The most recent edition may be downloaded from Mysteria, or FREQ as `OCCULT' from 102/922 . . .. Please send updates via modem to: Phil Hansford, Mysteria, (818) 353-8891 (bbs or netmail—1:102/943).
Number of boards in this list—153;
additions—17; deletions—1; updates—4.
Abbreviations:
M = MagickNet Echo Conference
P = Paranet (echo/files)
E = Other occult echoes
R = religion
W = Wicca
V = registration and/or validation by mail, etc.
hrs., eves, days etc. refer to operating hours (if known)
$ = charges a fee (ahead of name)
+ = reachable via PC Pursuit (before phone number)
Baud rates where shown are in brackets []—
1: 1200 baud 2: 2400 baud 3: 300 baud 9: 9600 baud.
Example: [129] means 1200/2400/9600 baud.
All boards operate 24 hours, 300 and 1200 baud unless otherwise noted.
ALABAMA
(205) 854-2308 Pinson $ Connection [P] [12]
ARIZONA
+(602) 234-3071 Phoenix Deus ex Machina [V]
(602) 277-8846 (unk) Left Seat [M] 3pm-9am, 24hr weekends
(602) 526-8025 Flagstaff Nexus [P]
(602) 575-1395 Tucson Brandlen BBS [123]
(602) 622-7441 Tucson QuestNet/ 2 [E]
(602) 795-0161 Tucson T.A.P.P.L.E. [123]
ARKANSAS
(501) 646-5812 (unk) Rainbow [P]
CALIFORNIA, Northern
+(408) 247-4810 Santa Clara $ Shark's Head
+(408) 338-4647 (unk) Four Directions [M] [123]
+(408) 992-0846 Sunnyvale Dungeon [M]
+(415) 648-8944 (unk) Skeptic's Board
+(415) 651-9496 Fremont $ Earth Rite Forum [V]
+(415) 751-9308 San Francisco Thelema Net [M] [123]
+(415) 843-4234 San Francisco Earthmind
(707) 882-2390 Point Arena Post Board [M,Ecol. echo] [123]
CALIFORNIA, Southern
+(213) 258-5724 Eagle Rock Tahuti Net [M, E]
+(213) 430-8138 Long Beach Gemini [W]
+(213) 466-3861 Los Angeles Hatzlacha [Jewish]
+(213) 837-4676 Los Angeles Dial-a-Guru
+(619) 282-1211 San Diego Rasta Think Tank [V] [1239]
(619) 433-8564 Oceanside Data Trax [E] [1239]
+(619) 447-5010 El Cajon $ Modem Magick [multi-line chat]
(619) 586-0703 San Diego Latenite Foreplay [E]
+(714) 535-1258 Anaheim Philosopher's Log [E,R,Jewish]
(714) 544-3369 Tustin Mt. Silverthorn [?? modem ??]
+(714) 662-2294 Costa Mesa Astro-Net [M, E] [123]
(714) 997-9342 Alta Loma Opus Julius [M]
(805) 945-1337 Lancaster Mystical Connection
+(818) 353-8891 Tujunga Mysteria [M, P, E] [123]
+(818) 566-1828 Burbank Cult Monitor [R, E]
(818) 609-1808 Reseda Makom Ohr Shalom [Jewish]
+(818) 892-1950 (ditto)
+(818) 843-7898 Burbank $ Artificial Dissemination [E] [123]
+(818) 899-3687 North Hollywood Cassandra-News [W] [123]
(818) 700-9591 Canoga Park Third World [R]
+(818) 798-6861 Pasadena $ Africa-1
(818) 965-7220 Rowland Heights House Atreides [M] [1239]
COLORADO
+(303) 252-9235 Northglen 8th Sea [M] [123]
(303) 292-3162 (unk) Aerie
(303) 329-3337 Denver P2 B2 S [PsychNet]
+(303) 431-1343 Denver ParaNet Alpha [P, M, E] [1239]
+(303) 449-5251 Denver On-Line Consulting [M]
(303) 455-3283 (unk) TelePeople [E]
(303) 499-3656 (unk) Canyonlands [M]
(303) 650-5636 Denver Day's End [M]
(303) 665-3746 (unk) M & D's Traveling Circuits
(303) 690-5410 Denver Reading Room [E]
(303) 841-9570 Parker $ Phoenix [M]
(719) 391-1092 Colorado Sprgs Crystal Cave [123]
(719) 392-1107 (unk) Honos Numen [M]
(719) 471-3783 (unk) Message Center [M]
CONNECTICUT
(203) 255-5420 Fairfield High Council [The Haunted] 9pm-2am
(203) 255-6269 Fairfield Paradise Isle [The Haunted] [123]
(203) 261-2153 Trumbull Newspaper [The Haunted] [123]
(203) 268-0079 (unk) Day After
(203) 268-1222 Monroe Excelsior AIBBS [M] [123]
(203) 268-3111 Trumbull Li'l Frog [M]
(203) 374-0101 Bridgeport Mission CNTRL [The Haunted]
(203) 488-1115 Branford Alice's Rest. [M]
(203) 929-4711 Shelton Fanta System [The Haunted] [123]
(203) 938-8782 Redding Gumby's HLine [The Haunted] [123]
(203) 938-9163 Redding Archives [The Haunted] [123]
FLORIDA
+(305) 233-2924 Miami Golden Dawn
(407) 297-1173 Orlando Super System
(407) 678-5546 Winter Park Gallifrey [M] [123]
(813) 378-1077 Sarasota American United [M]
(904) 862-4682 Ft. Walton Bch. Baker Street [M]
GEORGIA
+(404) 377-1141 Decatur Illumi-Net
+(404) 922-2428 Atlanta $ Atlanta Connect. [M, multi-line chat] [123]
+(404) 929-0800 (ditto)
HAWAII
(808) 337-9280 Kauai Kauai-1 [M] [1239]
(808) 499-1101 Honolulu Resturant [M] [123]
IDAHO
(208) 322-5227 Boise Greater Boise BBS [E]
ILLINOIS
(217) 356-0277 (unk) M-Link [E]
(312) 940-1686 Chicago Israel Gateway [R]
INDIANA
(317) 685-8437 Indianapolis Cosmic Express [astrology, 7 data bits?]
MARYLAND
(301) 229-5342 Bethesda Running Board
+(301) 249-8401 (unk) Social City Hall [occult sect.]
+(301) 622-1972 Silver Spring Alfheim
(301) 890-2490 Silver Spring Num. Inst. of Mystical Harmonies
MASSACHUSETTS
(508) 433-6491 Peperell IBM Tech Fido 2 [M] [1239]
(508) 663-6220 (unk) Wonderland [Pagan Inf. Net. hdq.]
(508) 795-7628 Worcester Psychic Awareness Netwk [123]]
(617) 245-1270 Boston Doug's Den [M]
(617) 274-7196 Bedford Mac's Place [1239]
+(617) 354-2171 Cambridge Viking Magic [M, R, P, E, magick] [1239]
+(617) 354-8873 Cambridge Channel One
(617) 551-0495 Norwood Rainbow's Edge [M] [123]
(617) 593-0081 Lynn NPI I [M]
MINNESOTA
(612) 471-0060 (unk) Radio Waves [M]
+(612) 721-8967 Minneapolis Terra Board [M] [123]
(612) 822-4812 Minneapolis Fire Opal [M]
MISSOURI
(314) 227-6885 (unk) Messianic Jewish [R]
(314) 741-2231 St. Louis Weird Base [M, E, W]
+(816) 454-5042 Kansas City Pegassus [1239]
+(816) 525-2515 Kansas City 64th Dimension [M] [123]
+(816) 531-7265 Kansas City Magic Lantern [W] 7pm-11am
+(816) 734-8173 Kansas City Gates of Delirium [123]
NEBRASKA
(402) 455-4877 Omaha Pentacle [no downloads] noon-8:30am
(402) 474-2928 Lincoln Cyberspace [Wicca SIG (hidden)]
(402) 477-0705 (ditto)
NEW HAMPSHIRE
(603) 547-6485 (unk) Intervision [P, M] [1239]
NEW JERSEY
(201) 438-0865 Carlstadt Cosmos [M]
(201) 473-8522 Clifton SEAnet Relay [M]
(201) 772-2819 Clifton Arco Real Estate [M]
(201) 798-0065 Hoboken Computer Connections [M]
(201) 875-8324 Sussex Empty Warehouse
(609) 886-6818 Cape May Inferno [M]
NEW MEXICO
(505) 434-3937 Alamagordo Casa de La Luz [M,P,E,R,W] 10pm-6am
(505) 822-8268 Albuquerque StarSeed [E]
NEW YORK
(212) 431-1216 New York City Backroom 2 [M]
(212) 432-7449 New York City Zooma n [E]
+(212) 519-1791 New York City Running Board [1239]
(716) 377-3985 Fairport 5th Generation Systems [P]
(716) 377-3986 (ditto)
+(718) 392-8836 New York City Thunder Road [1239]
+(718) 499-9277 Brooklyn Bapho Net [M]
(914) 235-4957 New Rochelle Stand
NORTH DAKOTA
(701) 839-3322 Minot Buddhist BBS [R, Buddhism] [123]
OHIO
(513) 299-1407 Dayton NSBBS [R, Satanism]
(513) 821-6543 (unk) Magical Temple of the Syrinx [M]
OKLAHOMA
(405) 681-8119 Oklahoma City House of Shadows [3]
(405) 789-9108 (unk) Cybermail
(405) 848-2828 (unk) Beagle Express [M]
(918) 252-5542 Broken Arrow First Amendment [P] [123]
OREGON
(503) 370-9777 Salem Capricorn Rising
(503) 753-7250 (unk) Corntown Connection [E]
PENNSYLVANIA
(412) 824-6566 Pittsburg Astral Board [E]
(412) 834-7964 Greensburg Post Road Inn [E]
RHODE ISLAND
(401) 789-4239 (unk) Golden Dawn [M] [123]
SOUTH CAROLINA
(803) 760-2753 Charleston Magic Shoppe 9pm-7am
TEXAS
+(214) 250-3323 Dallas Chai Way [M]
+(214) 416-2162 Carrollton Diplomat [M] [123]
+(214) 519-0728 Dallas Chrysalis [M, E, V]
+(214) 519-0828 (ditto)
+(214) 985-9054 (ditto)
(409) 744-7284 Galveston Ramco [M]
(512) 339-8037 Lake Travis Crystal Palace [M]
(512) 834-0263 Pflugerville Touchstone [M]
(512) 850-9414 Corpus Christi Mailroom [M] [1239]
(713) 482-0673 (unk) Etherial Plane
+(713) 666-6514 Houston Not for Mormons Only [R]
(713) 682-6508 Houston Two Wheelers [M]
(713) 890-2417 Houston Domain [E]
VERMONT
(802) 860-1875 Burlington We Serve Your Drives [M]
VIRGINIA
+(703) 698-8230 Falls Church Arquimedes [M] [down indeff.]
+(703) 370-7054 Alexandria TIDMADT [M]
+(703) 845-1125 Fairfax Zonzr East [M]
WASHINGTON .C.
+(202) 433-6639 Washington, DC DC Info Exchange
+(202) 686-9398 Washington, DC Blowtorch [M]
WASHINGTON State
+(206) 322-3305 Seattle Astrolog 1 [features astrology] [123]
+(206) 328-7827 Seattle Dial-a-Guru
(206) 822-8520 (unk) Albedo 0.39
WISCONSIN
(414) 735-2513 Appleton Fox Valley Tech [M]
(715) 362-3895 (unk) Old Frog [R]
BRITISH COLUMBIA
(604) 463-4811 Maple Ridge Agora [M]
(604) 754-7501 (unk) Hub City [E]
ONTARIO
(416) 237-1204 (unk) Paranet Pi
If you can, contact some of these boards and get to know the people there. I would especially like to talk with any of you on the Rasta Think Tank. You may want to try to convince a local sysop to become a member of RastaNet (just contact the Rasta Think Tank for information). In any case, you are in for a stimulating, informative and enlightening time.
Blessed Computing! | 
