


For those of you that downloaded this in sheer interest of the first 
mag to come out of Portland regarding only the Portland scene.
If this magazine seems a bit onesided, tough titty. We will be doing
it montly from now on, and if you want to be on staff to round it out,
we can do that.. but this issue was totally secret, known by only
Crisco, I, and Sonic Enigma.


             [[ BoaRD ReVieWS - By Siciliano and Crisco ]]
                 -=-=- The Manhattan Project -=-=-
Siciliano:
Despite the problems with RiSC I have been hearing about 
as of late, TMP remains strong as always, still recieving 
files just at a very fast rate. They do get a good share 
of 0 day, although the strong points of TMP lie in 4 nodes 
of ringdown, and 28.8's for blazing speed to match. The actual 
strong point lies in the complete flow of warez ranging from 
1-4 days in age. He recieves TONS of these files.. about 50-100 
megs per day on average, and his user database varies from top 
users in the world, to local leechers like myself. You will 
find that the top uploaders consist of Skybum <in the 1.25 gig 
uploaded range> and a few other killer people you probably 
haven't heard of. This board is now the US Headquarters for SMuT, 
and the RiSC West HQ.
        
Crisco: 
This board is of course second in the state, right next to
the infamous Mirage.  Warez are extremely consistent, ranging
widely from 0-7 dayz. Which is fairly leanient for being one
of the top boards around.  The sysop, Rifleman, is contrary
to the rumors floating around, once of the cooler, more
expierienced sysop around.  HD space being up around 4.8+ gig
if I am not mistaken, and 4 blazing fast 28.8 USR dualies.
Affils are deffinatly not lacking, RiSC, ITU, SMuT, ex-ACiD,
etc.  Users range from the top in the world to some heavy
duty local leechers, whom most of which are friends of the 
sysop.  The board accumulates up to around 50-100 meg a day, 
sometimes getting all the way up to 200 or so on good dayz.
The setup of Pcboard itself along with the hardware it is
run from, is extremely fast.

                    -=-=- The Kremlin -=-=-
Siciliano:
Unfortunatley, the change from V/2 to PC_Board in this case 
was probably a mistake. It has almost completely died off 
from the scene warezwise, and at the same time, it has totally 
lost its message bases. Although the board itself has a unique 
look to the Portland area, and Centurion is one of the people 
who have been in the local scene for quite a while, the Kremlin 
has seen better days. Perhaps a little more sysop intervention 
earlier on, and a few more contributing users would have helped. 
Skybum was before the primary uploader, followed by Crisco. Both 
have stopped uploading for seperate reasons. Crisco most likely 
because he is now a sysop, and has not the time to upload like he 
used to, as to Skybum, I can only speculate that perhaps he stopped 
to pay attention to TMP. This board has no affils to my knowledge.

Crisco:         
Once viewed by many locals, as one of the hotter boards 
around, The Kremlin is now one of the deader boards around.
The biggest problem with TK was the software change from V/2
to PCb.  Files were already lacking before the switch and
messages were fairly consistant, but when pcb hit, the whole 
thing went to hell fast. Files COMPLETELY stopped, except for
the occasional 5 or 10 meg uploads from Skybum.  Centurion, 
who was always viewed as one of the cooler people around, is
now looking alot like an ass, for the change of software. And
is now looking to be changing software again, to Obv/2, which
could make it come alive again.

                 -=-=- LaiR oF THe WyRM -=-=-
Siciliano:
Well, this board is newer, so I have to be leiniant. The warez 
aren't distributed equally, and are often quite a bit older than 
what is passed around some of the older and more established bbs's 
around town. However, if you are starting out, this is probably 
the board that is best to start on. You can meet people on here 
that will elevate you to some of the larger boards around town. 
The sysop, of whom I have never really heard until I heard of his 
board, does not actively participate in the local scene <?> to the 
best of my knowledge. The user base is somewhat scattered with quality 
of users. These people range from lamer from hell, to decent locals, 
and a little higher than that (excluding say, Rifleman, Skybum and 
Big Boss). However, this board actually recieves a few warez per day, 
which is more than I can say for some boards. This board has no affils.

Crisco: 
One question I ask myself when I call this board, is WHY? I
guess to some locals it could be cool for it's OLD WAREZ, 
and the message bases are completely empty, it's only 
positive aspect is the fact that it is a part of the 
dead/dieing DOA.  The sysop, Shadow something, isnt in the
scene, and never has been. The active user base, consists
of mostly lame users.

                    -=-=- Sacreligion -=-=-
Siciliano: Hehehe, this board... kicks ass :)

Crisco:  This is one of the most inconsistant, but good boards in 
Oregon.  The quality has been there *MOST* of the time,
except for when it had a PCB mishap.  Now that it is back
at V/2, it should be higher in the scene. LD users are 
starting to come for the groups that he has aquired, such 
as 911, and RiFT.  HD space is no prob, since the file bases
keep getting mysteriously nuked(which is actually nice and
clean).  Running at a nice 21.6 USR dually speed.  The
message bases get nuked 20x more then the file bases, which
is even better, since they get filled up EXTREMELY fast, 
mostly by the notorious Kryptic Night.  All and all, this 
board will and has gone somewhere, and is definitley not
a place for the local lamers to prezide.


                    -=-=- Digital Haze -=-=-
Crisco: I totally love this board.. it kicks ass!

Siciliano:
This board is currently #3 for speed of warez in the state 
of Oregon. The sysop is an active participant in the scene, both 
local and LD. He is a top uploader all around town, and has done 
quite a bit for the local scene. The cosysops, Bassline and Savage 
Dragon are also very powerful and influential in the local smaller 
scene. Savage Dragon, currently with United Couriers, and Bassline, 
one of the bigger dudes on the Internet.. both of these blokes can and 
do get fast warez. Crisco is generally cold to local users, but there are 
exceptions to the rule, with users that upload, and help with the local
and LD scenes. His user database is fairly well rounded with users from
Razor couriers, to local NoFear couriers, and a few of the sysops around 
town. The message bases are generally thin for an active board, but robust
for a PC_Board board with a userbase of 50 or so. The main uploader to 
DH is actually Crisco, who uploads most all of the warez, but the board 
is slowly coming around to be self sufficent.. and with 2 nodes @ 19.2 
<Crisco informs me this is soon to be 28.8 USR duals> the board is 
seldom uncallable. It currently has no rock solid affils, but Crisco 
tells me he has applied the board to Malice and Distortion. 

                -=-=- Product of Destruction -=-=-
Siciliano:
Generally known to people as 'PoD' this is a little older and more  
established board than alot. The sysop has totally left the scene, 
and his board stands the test of no sysop intervention. It is 
basically user supported. BeRZeRKeR <who is this dude?> is the top 
uploader, followed closely by SaiNTEN. The newest warez are generally 
brought in by SaiNTEN, and PoD has gone from next to no files at all, 
to a decent flow of 5 day warez (on the average). Messages are lately 
average at best, and the board has a decent userbase, filled with all 
kinds of users. I don't call a whole lot, as once every 2 or 3 days 
ends up about right on a new filescan and messagescan. The graphix, 
are actually alright, mostly done by PRoDuCT <kewl handle> who
is a decent ansi artist. The board is a good secure place that is 
always up, and usually has something new for everyone. To my knowledge, 
the board has no affils.

Crisco: 
Warez are very scarse here, and messages are average at best.
Although he does get occaisional fairly new(4 day) warez 
uploaded, it still isnt very fast. The sysop, Product, who 
used to be fairly well known in the scene, has completely
dropped off, and is now ONLY a sysop.  His 1.2 gig hd is
very nice, but when you have nothing to fill it, it is just
dead space.  The userbase varies in quality from people like
Kazmo to users like Crisco, Savage Dragon, and Sicily. The 
board software itself is very nice, Product has done great 
job with the ansi's and has tweaked it to perfection.

                   -=-=- Hidden Reality -=-=-
Siciliano:
Well, this board is somewhat new, like a lot of boards popping 
up all over, the difference between this board and a lot of others 
new ones is that The Entity, is a well known member of the local 
scene, and runs a tight ship. The board has nice ansis, very little 
problems, and is running smoothly. However, V-X isn't one of my 
first choices in BBS software, but it does incorporate the good ole 
forum hack feel. The warez are.. slowing down, with a steady flow 
coming lately from only Paradise. I feel that this board has lots of 
potential, because the sysop generally isn't a lazy fuck that is 
unwilling to do shit for his board.

Crisco: No comments, as I can't logon. :)

                     -=-=- The Vault -=-=-
Siciliano:
This board is without a doubt the best of the locals hardwarewise.. 
it is also one of the few boards that supports Amiga warez as well 
as IBM warez. First off, a little about the system that runs it. 3 
lines, 2 at 14.4, and 1 line at 21.6. It also has 1 gig of space 
for all your uploading and d/l'n pleasure. E-Man, the sysop, is not 
very active in the local scene, but from what I hear, he is active 
in the LD scene quite a bit. The board runs smooth, and is seldom 
down for any reason whatsoever.. the board used to be fast in IBM 
warez, mainly due to the contributions of Crisco and Savage Dragon. 
But for the past month or 2, there have been little to no warez 
coming in in IBM format from anyone.. as of the last few days though, 
almost the same time this publication is to be released, a few of 
his co-sysops have started uploading some decent <3-10 day> IBM 
warez, but they are not very constant, or so new that you can yell 
about them. E-Man all in all is easy to get along with but has 
probably cut his throat a little on IBM warez because of his strict 
upload policies, which he is unwilling to be lieniant with for anyone.
This board is affiliated with Fairlight and is the world HQ for 
several groups.

Crisco:  
Extremely big in the AMiGA scene, The Vault isnt a WHOLE lot
for the IBMer.  Even though many people upload, the IBM bases
arent quite big enough.  The sysop, E-Man, is deffinatly 
expierienced and mature with the scene. The 1 gig drive and 
the 3 nodes also adds to it's quality. They have been trying
to get rid of AMIGA, and have said that once it is gone, 
Fairlight will dedicate as much as it can to the IBM scene.
This board has the potential to grow to be one of the better
boards in 503, but the ibm uploaders have to come first. The 
user base is very high quality for the AMIGA d00dz, and there 
are some high quality IBM users, but there are alot of local
leeches on there as well, whom of which should be gone by the 
time the IBM stuff gets moving again.

                  -=-=- Shattered Dreams -=-=-
Siciliano:
This is traditionally one of Porland's oldest elite boards that 
is still up. The sysop, Isildur, recently switched from V/2 to 
V-X.. probably a good idea, considering the difficulty that he 
had with V/2. Well, unfortunatley, the board was once a very good 
board, but at present, it is a former shadow of itself. The warez 
are few and far between lately, especially at the date I am writing 
this review. However, the message bases are fairly active, and that's
while the userbase is still somewhat small. All in all, the board is 
still somewhat difficult for most locals to get on. The board's 
uploads were previously supported by Skybum, but he seems to have 
dropped SD as well.

Crisco:  
This board was once one of the finer boards around for the 
locals, but now it just doesnt have the pizzaz that it once
did.  Nothing at all changed to the board, people just lost
interest in it.  Isilder, the sysop, has always been out 
of the scene.  Now they havee switched software, to V/X. The
software of the future,(or was that PCB). Anyway, it has the 
potential to become what it once was, but probably not in the
near future.

                    -=-=- Dimension-X -=-=-
Siciliano:
This board, is 3 lines, 2 at 14.4, and 1 at 21.6.. However, the 
acting sysop, White Noise, is having some problems with his board. 
The protocols do not seem to work correctly on node 2 <At 21.6 I got 
1100 cps on a Zmodem U/l> This board catches GAMES pretty fast 
thanks to White Noise's leecher on Mirage. But unfortunatley, that 
can be somewhat unstable, because VERY FEW outside of White Noise, 
Kalin, and Slick Nick ever upload. They may have been a little too 
liberal with leechers <Such as the one I have ;)>.. However, the 
posting on the board is a nice flow lately, and the warez do come in. 
So all in all, this is a good board to call local. The sysops are ALL 
experienced, and the actual sysop, Kalin, is a Bitchin Ansi Design 
<BaD> member, so the art is fairly kick ass, with the exception of 
some default stuff. The userbase is pretty nice, with a lot of good 
locals and some LD callers. White Noise is learning a little about 
running a bbs, and the rest of the sysop team are concentrating on 
helping get the board back to its former greatness. Currently, I do 
not believe that the board has any affils, but perhaps it is a member 
board for BaD. 

Crisco: 
Warez come extremely fast here, but from only one source,
White Noise. Who has a leecher on the best board in the world
(Mirage). So usually one time per day there is anywhere from
5-30 megz of 0 day stuff on there. The message bases are 
nice and full. This board could deffinatly go somewhere if
the sysops got the board into some groups, but as of now I am
pretty sure it isn't part of any groups. Both of the lines 
are blazing fast with two 21.6's, and hard drive space has 
never seemed to be much of a problem.

Summary of the scene: 
       
Crisco:     This is where we get to critisize the scene without getting
            too personal with people(and getting into trouble).  Most of
            these boards, with only a few exceptions are run by dreaming
            sysops, who lie and dream about their boards getting to 
            places that they never will.  Most of all, the problem with
            the 5o3 scene is the age.  Notice that all the GOOD
            boards are run by people over the age of 20(TMP, MIRAGE),
            and the rest by 12-16 year olds. Maturaty is a large problem,
            even though there are some sysops that are mature enough
            to run quality boards, and be qualuty users on other quality
            boards.

Siciliano:  Well, I totally agree with Crisco on one point.. the scene is 
            too full of kids.. most of the decent users are from 16++ 
            easily, and probably the best users range from 18+ the problem
            I have with kids in the scene is that in most <not all> cases,
            the kids are either A: Spoiled little brats that have never 
            had to pay for anything in their lives or B: Have big egos on 
            the modem but really aren't anything at all.. The scene also
            has another big problem: Liars.. fuck, these people RUIN the 
            scene.. a lot of lamers are really starting to bug me, because
            I'm hearding rumors from hell.. it's all bullshit. The people
            that are at least honest don't bug me, and I don't have a 
            problem getting along with them. Another thing that's starting
            to bother me are the quality of warez that are coming out..
            it's a dark day, when a Razor crack only works on some systems
            and not others. There are a very limited number of people 
            active in the small local <Excluding TMP and Mirage> scene..
            Those people probably are limited to Myself, Crisco, SD and
            Ripperjack, Paradise, and for some boards, Sainten.
            The LAST thing that bothers me is the number of lame boards
            that are around and about in the scene lately.. I think some
            boards have NO buisness being up at all.. PD or nothing, just
            give it up.. as a matter of a fact, one of these lame boards
            was reviewed in this mag.. not gonna mention it, but I bet if
            you think really hard, you can guess which..



Grins, greets, and get fucked's..

Siciliano: Greets to Crisco, Deeply Disturbed, Paradise, Ghengis
Kahn, and the Entity..
Get fucked - Lord Paradox, you got a big mouth from what I hear.. you 
should keep it shut.

Crisco: Greets to Sicily, Black Scorpion, Bassline, and Kryptic Night.
Dude and Homer, remove dick a: from asshole b: - in other words, get fucked.



