From:	Jan Labanowski <jkl $#at#$ ccl.net>
Date:	Fri, 22 Oct 1993 16:51:49 -0400
Subject:	FAQ and LIST STOPPED

Dear Netters,
This is your coordinator speaking.

WAIT TILL MONDAY BEFORE SENDING ANYTHING TO THE LIST OR ME !!!
And please, read the rest of this message.

I told you last Sunday that we (i.e., Ohio Supercomputer Center) are moving
to the new machine for mailing, gopher, ftp. This will be a major disaster.
It will require changing many installation files, etc., and then checking
if everything works. It will also affect all my scripts running the list,
and all other services.

However, as a result, the mail will be distributed much faster.
Also, the archives moved from the NFS mounted disks to the disks on the mailer.
Therefore archive searches will be at least 5 times faster.

So, the list will be shut down today and not available through the weekend.
Do not even attempt to send anything to it, since it will probably be lost.
Wait for the message from me which resumes the list operation.

Now about the file with FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Let me start from
this. I DO NOT WANT ANY OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT ON THE LIST. PLEASE
ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO ME, AND I WILL RELAY THE INFORMATION TO THE
LIST ABOUT THE PROGRESS (OR LACK OF IT).
Few explanations. The FAQ is a popular jargon term denoting the file
which collects questions and answers to frequently asked questions on
a given list or newsgroup. Such files are available on some anonymous ftp
and availability of FAQ is announced to the list/newsgroup periodically.
This is done to limit the noise on the list. We all know how many times
we have seen questions: What is QCPE? Where to get MOPAC? How to find an
ftp site with program XXX? Where to find intro in MM?, What software for
X on PC, etc.

I want to share some thoughts on this:

1) FAQ will be an ongoing, constant effort to expand, correct and update
   the file. I will coordinate it, but can only contribute to these
   portions of FAQ which I feel familiar with. So it will be a joint
   project, and I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

2) We will not have the FAQ tomorrow. It takes time and effort to produce one.
   Bad FAQ produces more questions than it answers.

3) Due to the breadth of the topic, I do not see a FAQ as a selfcontained
   single file. I see it rather as questions, very short definitions, and
   pointers to a document/file in our archives. We already have many short
   notes and pieces of information there. It is time to update them
   and point to them.

4) There are already many, many messages on the list, which can be
   a good seed (or even perfect final product) for the FAQ entry.


At this moment, I would ask you for suggestions on what should be included
in the FAQ. Please write TO ME ONLY. After I compiled your suggestions,
I will present them to the list, and at this time ask for your contributions.
We may also create a small list for people who want to work with me
on this project, but I do not want to force anything on anybody. If you
want to help and got a spare hour, you are welcome. If you are busy, I will
understand this perfectly, and will "let you go without any questions asked".
I also invite software developers to provide information about their
products, addresses, whatever. I ask everybody to contribute whatever
they can. If not answers than questions...

Why we are doing this? BECAUSE it is good for our students. And we owe
this to them. And if you do not believe this one, then we do it for
ourselves, to popularize a discipline which is neither easy, nor
popular.

Jan Labanowski
Ohio Supercomputer Center
jkl;at;ccl.net



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