Digital Underground - uXu - Underground eXperts United #uxu-100

### ### ### ### ### #### ### ### ### #### ### ### ##### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ##### ### ### ########## ### ### ########## ### ### ### ### Underground eXperts United Presents... ####### ## ## ####### # # #### ####### ####### ## ## ## ## ##### ## ## ## ## ## #### ## ## #### # # ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ##### ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ####### ####### # # ###### ####### ####### [ A Year With uXu ] [ By The Chief ] ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ A Y E A R W I T H U X U Who'd ever believe we'd make it this far? Not me, that's for sure. Celebrating the 100th uXu file, we'd like to go back, and look at the time that has passed since the very first uXu-file. Without thought, plans or even members, The Chief set out to start a sidetrack-group (August 1991). The plan was to make it a group for writers, and it was to publish anything that was submitted to or written for the group. At the same time, The Chief was a member, and co-leader of another group, a group of hackers that only published hacking-related text files. As hacking-related text files wasn't the only thing The Chief wrote, he thought it would be a good idea to start a separate group, for those other text files. Along with Phearless, another member of the hacker group, they started to discuss names for the group, and after a couple of weeks of dumb, humorous, already taken and gross names, they decided on Underground eXperts United (uXu). During this time, the other members of the hacker group heard about their plans and started to accuse The Chief for being a traitor, starting a group of his own without the others. The "discussion" got out of hand and The Chief decided to leave the hacker group, to be able to go ahead with uXu. In September 1991, the first set of uXu files were released in Sweden, all written by The Chief, due to lack of other members. A week after the release, The GNN joined uXu and added a bunch of files to the uXu series which finally became the first uXu world-wide release. The first set of files varied between fiction and anarchy. The GNN supplied the anarchy and The Chief fiction. "We received a lot of response to the initial release, not all good, but who said that we would satisfy everyone anyway?" At the same time, uXu started searching for members and contributors to manage a second release pretty much like the first one within reasonable time. A few people answered but never managed to write anything unfortunately. At the end of October 1991, the time had come for the second release and the premiere for Phearless' files under the uXu label. The release was named "The Weird release", because it basically contained a lot of weird files and general weirdness. "After this release, we got messages from "well-known" writers from other groups (mostly in the U.S.) who wanted us to know they were interested in writing something for us, although we haven't received anything from any of them yet, but then again, no-one made promises." With almost thirty uXu files out there, it was time to organize the distribution of these files, and the search for good distribution sites, as well as sites where forthcoming contributors could leave their submissions to uXu (making life a bit easier for them, not having to call Sweden) was started. Three major, and also well-known U.S. boards answered that they'd be happy to store the uXu files. (Demon Roach Underground, Condemned Reality and Ripco ][) That was what made uXu available and known to a lot more people than before. "We really can't thank the SysOps of these boards enough for their help." December saw the last 1991 uXu release and yet another member was added to the list of writers, Mister Monochrome, who became the first U.S. uXu writer. Mister Monochrome, sadly enough, wrote only one file for uXu, but also made it clear to others that uXu accepted foreign writers. The release also contained files from The GNN and The Chief. The Chief's major file for this release was a follow-up to the Ripco BBS case, as you doubtfully have heard of if you haven't been hacking the last few years <g>. Dr. Ripco himself helped creating the follow-up, adding information and gave uXu a clear signal to publish an interview they'd made with him. This file contained every piece of information found about the incident, and the aftermath (?). Most of it was taken from the Computer Underground Digest (CuD), which, even today, is the best source of information regarding the computer underground you can find. "...we must thank the Editors, Jim Thomas and Gordon Meyer for their great work!" January 1992. The Chief had been drafted to do his military service, and went to do so on the 7th of January. The idea was that he would be gone for almost a year, so Phearless took charge and became the editor, distributor and contact for uXu. As most of the releases from uXu were dominated by files from The Chief, the general thought was that this would be the end of the group. But.. The fourth release was packed with files from Phearless and The GNN. Even The Chief got some time off to do the index. Mister Monochrome was moved to the Contributor Member List. When March arrives, The Chief had injured himself and was spending more time at home than at the military base, waiting to be dismissed and relieved from his duties. The fifth release was distributed at the beginning of the month with files from The GNN and The Chief. This release marks the beginning of The GNN's fiction frenzy, and also where The GNN's production of files passes The Chief's. If you haven't read the files from this release, you've missed the truly Best from The GNN. Also with this release, an initiation of a competition called 'The Textfile Writer's Awards' is launched. Unfortunately it seems like the underground textfile public as well as the writers aren't too interested in such a competition, because the only response received was a basic warez-d00d comment: "what can u win???". The idea isn't bad, but if there's no indication of interest, why bother? The 6th set of files were released when April tumbled down on us. Two new contributors were added (Quiksilver from the U.S. and Ralph 124C41+ from Sweden) with new specialities. "We were also happy to add a support and distribution site (Solsbury Hill) to our list, and once again be available to more people out there." A new section was added to the index with Thanks to those who had helped uXu in one way or another. Among the first listed we find Dr. Ripco, MAC???, Sarlo and Tequila Willy. New files from The GNN, The Chief, Quiksilver and Ralph 124C41+ mashed this release into a great mix. One month later, the seventh release is out. Right before the summer holidays it crashed down upon an unsuspecting audience. The first Danish uXu support board was added with hopes of new members from Europe, and yet again a wider audience. Only the original members, The GNN, The Chief and Phearless added to the growing range of uXu- files this time. The first attempt to bring uXu onto the Internet was made, first by simply sending the files to ftp.uu.net, who kept them for a week, and then deleted them. Secondly, ftp.eff.org, who stated that "they already had similar files at their site". Today, the uXu files will probably be added to ftp.lysator.liu.se, but nothing has been decided yet, so stay tuned for confirmation before crashing down on the site. Release number eight in July contained material from all listed uXu members, which is a 'first' for the group. Adding yet another contributor (Sarlo) to the member-list along with three really great files from the same (get them now if you haven't already). Also a 'first' for the series is a co-production between Phearless and The GNN which is highly recommended. As stated above, files from The GNN, The Chief, Phearless, Ralph 124C41+ and Sarlo made this release one of the best to this date. Which leads us to... Release number nine. December 1992. The moon is in orbit. (no shit!) Almost four months after release 8, the ninth release comes as a christmas holiday special with a new set of files to break the magic '100' (This very file even!). The Chief went back to do some studying that meant less files from him (time is grades) and a big gap between this release and the previous one. New files from Phearless and The GNN, who once again 'saved the day' (and the release). Subscriptions to uXu is now available through the Internet (E-Mail The Chief at chief@lysator.liu.se) as well as back issues. An anonymous ftp site for the uXu files will soon be reality, but the contact with BBS's has taken a blow due to non-existent money for calls. Releases will probably only be sent through the Internet and be available from the uXu homeboard 'The Stash' from release 10. Nothing is decided yet though. A great year with uXu and a great set of over 100 files makes the difference between failure and not completely failure <g>. No, this isn't going to be some self-admiration-history-of-uXu-kind-a-stuff that you all expect. We here at uXu are damn proud to have an audience out there who collects and read our files. We're just as surprised as you that we broke the magic 100. We do have a few surprises up our sleeves, and that's why we have targeted 1993 as our main year of existence. Watch out, here we come! The uXu staff of writers The Chief, The GNN, Phearless, Ralph 124C41+, Sarlo _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

← Svenska e-zines (1990-2008)