Tom Jennings
Tom Jennings (1955– ) is the author of FidoNet, the first message and file networking system for BBSes.
Aside from creating the most influential protocol for networking computer bulletin boards, Tom built Wired magazine's first internet presence, wrote the portable BIOS that led to Phoenix Technologies BIOS, and maintains an authoritative history on character codes and encoding methods.
From 1988 until 1991, while living in San Francisco, California, Tom was editor and publisher of one of the first Queercore zines, Homocore with co-editor Deke Nihilson. Their other activities, such as putting on concerts and writing for and creating other publications, were instrumental in popularizing the Queercore movement, particularly on the west coast. Deke was also involved in performing in films and had his own Queercore band Comrade In Arms. But it was Homocore, throughout its seven issues, along with the zine J.D.s, that was most influential in the rise of Queercore internationally as the zines found their way into the hands of queer punk kids across North America and Europe.
Jennings currently resides in Los Angeles, California, with his partner Josh Stehlik and works as a technician at the University of California, Irvine's Arts Computation Engineering graduate program.
External links
- World Power Systems (WPS) Website of Tom Jennings
- Photo gallery of Tom Jennings from BBS: The Documentary