I am one of the many who really appreciates the consistent hard work of Dan Herron in maintaining the ALSB website and ALSBtalk list. Dan, you are doing a fantastic job. I hope you never retire; I can't imagine trying to find a replacement ExSec from the pool of lesser mortals. The ALSBtalk reply-button gives us all one good chance to make a fool of ourselves in public. Agreed, some people savor the opportunity several times. Having made my gaffe in 2002 (I remember the precise minute), I'm fine with the current settings - although one expects virtually everyone will eventually take a turn or two. Think of how it contributes to our humility and sensitivity for the mistakes of others. Perhaps the ALSBtalk reply-button is why so many others continue to lurk - possessed of a prurient fascination to behold the sucker who next falls into that trap. And how embarassing will it be? No scandalous betrayals or unfiltered "what I really think" public "oops" to titter about yet. May I raise a related point? I think the major technology and privacy concern of ALSBtalk is that all of our messages are organized and archived (by Miami University's listserve?) on the web. They are open and searchable by month/year and thread. While ALSBtalk is by subscription of members, and a clubby town hall of 280 may be getting close to a notion of "public", one should still know that anyone in the world can read what we write on ALSBtalk through eternity. My own ALSBtalk postings are found on the links below, back to 1994. Google yourself to find your message trail. http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9405&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9407&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9408&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9409&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9410&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9501&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9505&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9506&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9509&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9510&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9511&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9512&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9602&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9603&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9610&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9705&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9706&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9710&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind9711&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0207&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0210&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0211&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0301&L=alsbtalk http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0304&L=alsbtalk Dan, this might be ultra-efficient storage and backup systems operating, but I wonder if we should try to get the ALSBtalk archives deleted or at least accessible only to list subscribers (password protected). Cheers, Peter Bowal University of Calgary
