Re: Osprey Web Archive
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Wed, 4 Nov 1998 19:22:17 -0500
Steve,
I appreciate your comments and would appreciate even more hearing from
those who can't load the archive files. I'd like some idea of why they are
having a problem. I think the web-archives are one of the strong points of
MDOsprey.
That's the good news (that I'm willing to listen to problems). The bad news
is that I have very little to no control over the form the archives take. They
are created automatically by software provided by the ISP we have the list
contract with and are stored in areas of the sytem totally inaccessible to
me. For various reasons, I doubt that the ISP support personnel will be
responsive to working with me on this problem, though I will certainly
approach them.
Now, some information first...MDOsprey is totally unafilliated with the
Maryland Ornithological Society. While many of the members of the list
are also members of the MOS and, in fact, officers of the MOS, the list
itself is not connected with them or any other local or national birding or
conservation organization. I keep it this way so people can say what is on
their minds (within the bounds of good taste) and Fran and I choose to
make the list available to all the birders of Maryland as our way of repaying
the tremendous pleasure we have taken from the sport of birding over the
years.
Having said all this...the MOS web site has gotten a new name but what
many may not realize is that it has moved to a new site as well. I am
currently exploring a similar move for MDOsprey. Due to the size and
complexity of the archives, I don't want to commit to such a move unless
they can duplicate the current setup (with, hopefully, a lot more
accessibility for me, so I can respond to some of the questions you raised
earlier.).
In short, changes are being contemplated which should make the service
that much better and more responsive to those who subscribe and to those
who merely read the archives. The changes will take time, so please be
patient and be aware that we are looking for a long-term home for the list
that will support an extensive archive and a responsive list at a reasonable
cost with reasonable support.
If anyone has suggestion, kudos, or complaints (gasp!), please don't
hesitate to send them to me directly. My e-mail is <underline>osprey@ari.net</underline> and if
you catch me on a good day I might not even yell at you! Grin....
Again, Steve, thank you for voicing your concerns.
Best,
Norm Saunders
<nofill>
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Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net