[dar-list] ADMIN: Service change

[Tom Neff]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I want to apologize for the recent interruption (really
two interruptions) in Dar-list service.  These were particularly
difficult to diagnose and to get fixed.  The troubles should be over
for good - I'll explain why.

After twelve years I have reluctantly concluded that despite
tradition, loyalty and all that noble stuff, our relationship with
Software Tool & Die (a/k/a The World) has run its course.  I am not
dissing them in any way - back in 1994-5, when you wanted a hosted
list with lots of members, services like ST&D were a rare godsend.
And it's certainly not easy for a smaller ISP to hang on these days.
But the bottom line is that we need better software and better
service.

So we're moving to a Mailman system on a different host
(folkserv.net).  I have been serving several thousand listmembers on
that platform for quite a while, and I think you'll like it - if you
even notice it.  The goal is a seamless transition, and if you're
reading this :) then I think it worked.  I'll be watching for
glitches!

You can still send posts to dar-list at grassyhill.org as always, or you
can post to dar-list at folkserv.net and that will work also.  Folks who
post to dar-list at world.std.com should change over soon - it will work
for a while, but it might not be forwarded forever.  (although I'll
see what I can do on that score, since we're in a lot of books and
websites)

You will notice a few changes - all to the good, I think.  For one,
non-Digest members will notice the [dar-list] prefix on this posting's
Subject line.  There are enough lists nowadays, and we're most of us
on enough of them, that this now seems justified.  There's also a
descriptive footer at the bottom of each message and each Digest.  I
will probably phase out the individual-message footer in time, but for
now it's a helpful reminder of how to interact with the list.

There are a few other changes.  You can adjust your own subscription
settings via the Web, using the link shown at the bottom of this
message.  This is useful for vacations, switching to and from Digest,
etc.

You can also attach pictures or other small, reasonably sized files to
your messages.  To protect members' bandwidth, these will NOT
automatically be sent out to everybody; instead, a web URL will be
added to the message to allow you to view the picture (etc) via web
browser.  This lets people who are interested check it out, without
burdening everyone else.

If you have any questions or any problems with the list in its new
home, please write me directly at tneff at grassyhill.org .  Thanks for
your patience, and here's to another 12 years of good Dar discussion!