Mailing List or Newsgroup?

["Martin Hughes (Biochem)" <mjgh@mbfs.bio.cam.ac.uk>]

Hi everyone!
Well, the Basho's over, and all I can say is "you lucky bastards"
to all those who were fortunate enough to have visual contact 
for the playoff.  That really must have been something.  Anyway,
a big thank you once again to those who were kind enough to provide
results for the "geographically challenged".
Quick question though - how long did Akebono get to rest between
what were effectively 3 bouts in a row at the end? - was it 
straight on after the last bout, or did he have time to "get
his act together"?

OK - now, the question of what to do about the size of this ML.
Initially, when Pete suggested the idea of a newsgroup I was
against it.  The main reason for this was that I felt we would
get a fair number of "garbage" posts appearing, especially around
September, when there are newbies crawling all over the net.  The
other thing is that I think the ML is a much more "intimate" form
of communication.  However, the number of members of the ML is now
getting pretty large, and so I think we have the option (as has been 
suggested) of going for a "proper" ML, or trying to create a new
newsgroup.
Now, as I see it, in order to create a proper ML, we need someone
who is either a systems operator, someone who is very freindly
with their systems operator, or someone who is enough of a computer
wizard to be able to set up such an ML on their own.  So,, is there
anyone out there who conforms to this description?  My suspicion
is that there aren't, since no-one seems to have come forward yet.
It may be possible to get this going though - but this would depend
on the interest for a ML vs. a newsgroup.
If we decided to go for a newsgroup, I imagine the first decision
would be whether to go for an "official" group (with a soc. or
rec. prefix), or stay unofficial, with an alt. group.  I believe
that for the former, you need about 100 votes.  Whilst I think
we could drum up this sort of support (if only be coercing
colleagues/freinds to vote), we would have to decide
where to put the  group (soc.culture.japan.sumo? rec.sports.japan.
sumo?).

So, what does everyone think?  Would we prefer to stay as an ML,
with regular (monthly) notices on s.c.j. to let folks know where
we are, or should we form a newsgroup.
My preference would be for a ML, and that is how I would cast my
vote.  If necessary, I think I might be able to get that set up -
but it may take time.  Anyway, how many for an ML, and how many
for a Newsgroup?

Martin




Martin J. G. Hughes
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Email: mjgh@mbfs.bio.cam.ac.uk  OR  hughes@rkna50.riken.go.jp