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Dear PaleoNet Subscriber: Time marches on and, believe it or not, so does PaleoNet. Itıs been a while now since the list has had a technical upgrade and, though weıve been getting along better than ever before technically, thereıs always room for improvement. Recently the NHM has recommended all the listservers it hosts migrate from the Majordomo software to GNUıs Mailmanı software. This is a more feature-rich, web-savvy, and security-aware system that should improve the PaleoNet experience for everyone. So, whatıs going to be different? Quite a bit behind the scenes and a few things in front as well. One of the most important changes will be the PaleoNet password. All subscribers will be issued a password theyıll use to access the new subscriber web interface (see below), change subscriber settings and so forth. When we migrate to the new list everyone will be sent their PaleoNet password. Under Mailman subscriptions and unsubscriptions will be handled via a web interface. That should simplify these procedures for everyone. New subscribers will access a web page and enter their e-mail address, name (optional), and select some basic options (e.g., straight list subscription or weekly digest subscription). Thus, the PaleoNet Digest will become an option for everyone subscribed to PaleoNet, not a separate list. If you want to take a break from constant PaleoNet messages for a time and convert your subscription to the digest format (or back again) it will all be just a few mouse-clicks away. All user options will be managed through a PaleoNet (Mailman) web site that will be able to be accessed anytime, anywhere, by anyone with a valid PaleoNet password. The PaleoNet archives will also change from the custom-built system weıre currently operating to an archive-management system built into the Mailman software. One downside is that the back archives wonıt be able to be migrated into the PaleoNet (Mailman) Archive. But never fear. They wonıt be lost. Weıll just freeze the current PaleoNet Archives and maintain that as a frozen document store in the NHM web site. Last, but not least, those poor souls who donıt subscribe to PaleoNet will also be able to post messages to the list, though only after Iıve reviewed and approved them. That will actually make life a bit simpler for me as I presently receive many requests to post messages to the list that I then have to copy and send to PaleoNet by hand. There are a number of other changes that will occur under Mailman, but those have to do with list management. Theyıll affect my PaleoNet experience dramatically (and for the better), but not yours. Howıs it going to happen? Changing list software is always a bit exciting in that you have no idea whatıs going to happen until you actually do it. The plan is as follows. 1.) Freeze the subscribership list. 2.) Take PaleoNet (Majordomo) offline. 3.) Mass subscribe everyone on the PaleoNet (Majordomo) list to the Mailman system. 4.) Make the necessary adjustments to the NHM e-mail system. 5.) Bring PaleoNet (Mailman) online. Whenıs it going to happen? The plan is to have PaleoNet (Mailman) up and running by the end of the week. Do I need to do anything? No. If everything goes as planned the actual change should be pretty much invisible to the current subscribers. Once the subscribership list is frozen everyoneıs address on that list will be mass subscribedı to PaleoNet (Mailman). When that happens everyone will be sent a brief welcome to PaleoNet (Mailman)ı e-mail and their password. No action will need to be taken (except, of course, for putting the password someplace safeı). The initial passwords youıll get will be simple, random, alphanumeric strings. Those who want to change their passwords will need to access the PaleoNet (Mailman) web page (the url will be sent along with the Welcomeı e-mail) and follow the instructions there. Thatıs it. Once the migration has been completed and weıre reasonably sure it was successful Iıll post an e-mail to the list containing a new PaleoNet Userıs Guide for everyoneıs reference. Let me close by thanking you all for being part of the PaleoNet community. Since we began way back in 94 PaleoNet has developed into a regular part of the paleontological landscape. Indeed, itıs getting difficult to recall how we ever got along without it. Thatıs down to all of you who have been PaleoNet subscribers and supporters over the years. Itıs been my great pleasure to be your host for the last 12 years. Iım looking forward to the next 12. Regards. Norm MacLeod ___________________________________________________________________ Prof. Norman MacLeod Keeper of Palaeontology The Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (0)207 942-5204 (Office) (0)207 942-5546 (Fax) http://www.nhm.ac.uk//research-curation/staff-directory/ palaeontology/cv-5463.html (Web Page) ___________________________________________________________________
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