I am happy to report that a long-time contributor to the EdStat list is tentatively interested in serving as listowner. He is affiliated with a large university that uses LISTSERV software to manage thousands of mailing lists. These lists have searchable archives, and there is a possibility that we could convert the existing EdStat archives to the new format.
HOWEVER, this potential listowner is ONLY interested in the e-mail list and would not wish to maintain the current gateway between the list and the sci.stat.edu newsgroup. If the list and newsgroup were separated, then postings could be limited to subscribers, which would largely solve the current problems with spam and viruses.
There have been several recent messages in support of separating the list and newgroup; I don't think anyone has spoken up in favor of maintaining the gateway. But you should not underestimate how big a change this will be. During the week I collected data, 32 messages were posted directly to the list by subscribers. Approximately 42 messages were posted to the newsgroup. Because of the gateway, we all saw all 74 messages. But without the gateway, list subscribers would have seen only the 32 messages, and newsgroup readers would have seen only the 42 messages.
We won't take any action immediately, to allow time for some reactions and discussion. But unless someone comes up with a viable plan for maintaining the gateway, I think we're headed toward separating the list and newgroup.
Jackie -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ E. Jacquelin Dietz (919) 515-1929 (phone) Department of Statistics, Box 8203 (919) 515-1169 (FAX) North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-8203 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Street address for FedEx: Room 220A Patterson Hall, 2501 Founders Drive ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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