PK> IMHO, Fidonet should be developing a NEW data record format
 PK> that completely replaces the Nodelist, but still keeps Fidonet
 PK> nodes connected. It MUST be flexible (the current Nodelist
 PK> format is not at all very flexible in this case), and be able
 PK> to work in ways the Nodelist was never designed t work. I
 PK> think this new format already exists today, its called DNS.

unfortunately one can't go about modifying DNS for certain functions that
fidonet would want/need... nor can fidonet place all needed info in a dns
record set... and we don't even want to think what a POTS node would have
to do to contact this dns and get the info it needs...

 PK> Fidonet has just not figured out how to use it in a way that
 PK> works well with the rest of Fidonet. The main reason for this
 PK> that I see is the conflict between the Commercial use of the
 PK> Internet and the "private" world of Fidonet. Its not a
 PK> question easily resolved (IMHO).

i don't think that the commercial and private usages of the two nets is a
big problem... the big problem is there are fewer and fewer technicians in
fidonet thanks in part to the politicos and their actions...

)\/(ark